Ugwoke Kingsley Chika from Ibagwa-Ani Community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, is a fresh graduate of Microbiology from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu, waiting for his call up letter to enable him participate in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
But as it is, unless there is divine intervention, Chika’s dream of joining his mates at the one year service of his father”s land may be a mirage.
Reason: Chika is currently in the custody of security operatives for what only his abductors can reveal.
Narrating his ordeal to Journalists in Enugu on Wednesday, Elder Nicholas Ugwoke, a retiree and father of the young man in captivity, said he has petitioned Inspector General of Police (IGP) over the the alleged abduction of his son, destruction of his house and looting of family property.
Ugwoke, aged 102 who said they should not allow his son to die in police custody, alleged that policemen invaded his house, carted away family properties, caused massive destructions in the building and properties inside, shot his son, Kingsley, took him away, and till date his whereabout is unknown to the family.
According to him, “Till date nobody has told him or members of his family why his house was invaded and destroyed and his last son shot and taken to unknown place.
In the petition which was copied to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Enugu State Commissioner of Police, the visibly heartbroken certiranian alleged, “on July 11, 2022, a team of armed police officers in 7 Hillux Vans and one Sienna car stormed my house at 9.30am and opened fire on Mr. Ugwoke Kingsley Chika who was wearing only boxer as he just finished taking his morning bath”.
Parts of the petition read: “I am the eldest man in Azuokpe village, aged 101 years (as at September 2022 when petition was written) and the father of Ugwoke Kingsley Chika who was my last born and just graduated from Enugu state university of science and technology, ESUT, wherein he studied Microbiology and was working towards his clearance to enable him participate in the National Youth Service Corps.
“While my son Ugwoke Kingsley was awaiting call up letter for the National Youth Service, our village, Ibeagwa-Ani, set up a local vigilante to assist the Nigeria Police in maintaining law and order in our village. He was head of the vigilante.
“Unfortunately, on the 11th day of July, 2022, a team of armed police officers in seven Hills vans and one Sienna car stormed my house at 9.30am and opened fire on Mr. Ugwoke Kingsley Chika who was wearing only boxer as he just finished his morning bath.
“After shooting him between the hours of 9.30sm and 10am, the said team of police officers threw him into a Hillux van as if he was a lifeless wood. They equally arrested three other boys in and around my compound and took them to Nsukka Central police station.
“All these happened without any resistance from Ugwoke Kingsley who was repeatedly crying in a very loud voice, demanding to know what offence he has committed.
“Two hours later, the same team of police officers came back to my house and destroyed my house which I built in 1960 and was only renovated recently. The level of destruction in my house was heartrending and mind boggling to the extent that all the glass windows, doors, bookshelves, standing fans, among other things were all vanished.
“As if these destruction was not enough, CG motorcycle, Summec 27000 generator and bags containing my clothes and that of the household were carter away. The worst was that the diabetic drugs being taken by my sick wife were not spared by these stern looking police officers”, Pa Ugwoke lamented.
Ugwoke said since the sad incident happened in his house, his family had been going to various police stations in Enugu in search of Kingsley but “no police officer has explained to my family the allegations against my son, Ugwoke Kingsley Chika and his whereabout”.
He appealed to the IGP to order a thorough investigation into the incident and get to the root of what happened to his son.
Contacted on the petition, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said: “I’m sure the petition would’ve been endorsed for investigation. But I’ll have to verify, please”.
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