Ebem Ohafia Incident: IGP Removes CP, Blames Police, Sets Up Panel

By Adesina Soyooye

An angry and embarrassed Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has removed the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command over the killing, by the Police, of Mr Ifeanyi Arunsi. The IGP, also,  condemned in strong language, what he described  as  “the glaring unprofessional conduct and misuse of firearms by a policeman at Ebem Ohafia area of Abia State on Friday, 17^th April, 2020 which led to the unfortunate death of one Mr. Ifeanyi Arunsi.”

He did not, also, support  the “resort  to self-help by some people and the resultant arson and damage to Government property and operational assets of the Nigeria Police Force.” 

The rampaging mob burnt a  Court , a Police station, and destroyed other Police properties. 

Meanwhile, according to the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba,  the IGP has set-up a Special Investigation Panel headed by  DIG Anthony Michael Ogbizi  of the Force Criminal Investigation Department “to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the unfortunate incident. The Panel will review police actions and inactions prior, during and after the death of Mr. Ifeanyi Arunsi and the circumstances surrounding the attack on the police station and damage to property.”

To replace CP Okon is CP Janet Agbede as the new Commissioner of Police, Abia State.  Okon has been redeployed to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

 Concluded  Mba in the statement: “While condoling the family and friends of the Late Ifeanyi Arunsi, the IGP enjoins the people of Ebem Ohafia in Abia State not to take the laws into their own hands but rather allow the course of justice to prevail at all times. He assures that the investigation into this case will be swift and thorough noting that justice will surely be done to all parties.”