The family of a 27-year-old man, Onyekachi Ugiri, who was killed during one of the protests against the move to impeach Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has called on the police to release his corpse to them.
Onyekachi, an indigene of Anambra State but resident in the Borokiri area of Port Harcourt, was allegedly caught by bullet on his head during a protest on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, his mother, Mrs. Calista Ugiri, called on Governor Fubara to come to their aid, adding that her late son was lured by a friend to join the protest.
“On Tuesday (October 31), one boy, our neighbour, his name is Chinwendu came to the house to carry my son to go for protest in support of the governor.
“At night after I waited and did not see my son, I asked my daughter where was her brother, she told me our neighbour, Chinwendu, took him for protest in support of the governor.
“On Wednesday, Chinwendu came back and told my daughter that he took my son to protest in support of the governor and as the police were shooting, bullets caught Onyekachi on the head. Then my son ran and entered one building where he died. Chinwendu ran away while others were arrested.
“I went to Old GRA Police Station but they said I should go to the Control Room at headquarters. I also went to the Control Room from there to State CID, they said he was not there.
“I also went to Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, I saw two persons with bullet wounds, I did not see my son. I went to the Police Clinic where they said somebody was with bullet wound, I did not see him there.
“This morning (Friday 3, November 2023), I saw the video of my son’s dead body with blood all over. I am begging the police to provide the body of my son wherever it is. I am also calling on the governor to come to my aid.”
Police spokesman in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, was yet to respond to inquiries made by journalists on the incident at the time of filing this report.
