Bereaved families of Anambra killings lament non-release of IG panel report

The families of the victims of the Anambra killings are expressing their grievances over the delayed release of the Investigative Panel report. Several individuals, including elderly family members, who were affected by the extra-judicial killings in Anambra State, are disappointed with the lack of justice and resolution from the Nigeria Police Force.

In January 2023, reports surfaced concerning alleged misconduct by police officers at the Zone 13 Command, Ukpo-Dunukofia, and the Anambra State Police Command, involving unlawful arrest, detention, torture, extrajudicial killings, organ harvesting, and seizure of victims’ property. A whistleblower brought forward these allegations, implicating senior police officers and civilian collaborators.

In response to the public outcry, the former Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, established an Investigative Panel on Anambra Extra-judicial Killings and Others in February. While the report of the investigation was submitted to the former IGP, it has not been made public as promised.

The families and stakeholders, through various civil society organizations, continue to demand transparency and justice, expressing disappointment in the delay of the report’s release. They emphasize the need for closure and accountability, with some intending to pursue legal avenues for justice.

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Victims and their families shared their harrowing experiences, detailing instances of arbitrary arrests, disappearance of loved ones, and unjustified killings at the hands of law enforcement. They lament the lack of progress in unveiling the findings of the panel and the absence of invitations to testify.

Despite the persistent pleas for resolution, the current Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has also not released the panel’s report, further fueling the agitation for justice by the victims and their advocates.

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The families narrate their struggles in seeking justice, with one mother expressing her anguish over the disappearance of her son, while another pregnant woman mourns the unjust killing of her husband. Moreover, the victims’ relatives underline the impact of the delayed resolution on their lives and stress the urgency in addressing the atrocities committed by the police officers.

Various stakeholders and civil rights advocates in Anambra State echo the demand for accountability, criticizing the inertia in releasing the panel’s findings and urging the current IGP to expedite the process. They emphasize the imperative of upholding justice and sanctioning those found guilty of the reported atrocities.

Despite efforts to reach out to the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and the Anambra State police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, for comments, their responses have been elusive.

The families and victims are left grappling with unresolved trauma and seeking closure, while the quest for justice in the Anambra killings remains unanswered.