Ebonyi State Police Command and the Student Union Government SUG) of Ebonyi State University are trading words over the death of a 300-level student of the institution identified as Ayogu Evans in a car crash on the ever-busy Nkaliki Road, Abakaliki.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the student of the Department of Sociology allegedly died in the crash while being chased by the police.
It was gathered that Ayogu was driving alone when the tragic accident occurred. He was subsequently rushed to the hospital where he passed on a few hours later.
A source told LEADERSHIP on condition of anonymity that the deceased was being chased by the police when he had an accident.
The source also alleged that the police officers who were chasing him fled when the accident occurred, adding that the police officers later returned to the scene of the accident to take away the wrecked car to their station at Liberation Estate.
Reacting to the incident, the student union president, Tobias Oshim, said after being informed of the death of the 23-year-old student, he conducted a site inspection and a thorough examination of the accident location.
He said the deceased was neither under the influence of alcohol nor drugs at the time of the accident, adding that it was also established that the location of the accident was unusual for him suggesting he was there due to the police chase.
He said an eyewitness, a tricycle rider involved in the accident, confirmed the police chase, involving three officers in a van.
The SUG president said the union leaders met with the state police commissioner, Mrs Ogodo Augustina, to discuss the incident, adding that the meeting focused on seeking justice for Evans and addressing the issue of police brutality in the state.
But in a swift reaction, the police command said that operatives on snap, stop and search around Nkaliki Road sighted a vehicle that was approaching their checkpoint but suddenly reversed and sped off.
In a statement signed by the police public relations officer, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, he said the actions of the driver raised the suspicion of the police operatives which made them pursue the vehicle adding that the driver did not stop till he was involved in an accident along Oriuzor Road.
She said traffic officers were alerted and with the effort of good citizens, Evans was conveyed to the hospital where he died.
