Friday, November 8, 2024 -The father of 19-year-old Peter Onminyi, who was allegedly k!lled by men from the Operation Zenda unit of the Benue State Police Command, has demanded for justice.
According
to Joseph Onminyi, his son was k!lled in the presence of family members on May
19, 2024, around 8 pm while they were having dinner at their residence located
at Welfare Quarters, Makurdi.
Speaking
to journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday, November 6, the civil servant alleged
that some policemen invaded their residence, shot his son d3ad, and took away
his corpse.
Onminyi
demanded the immediate release of his son’s body for a decent burial according
to Idoma’s traditional rites and customs.
The
father described his son as a complete gentleman and said that, to his
knowledge, his son had not committed any offence that would have warranted his
killing by the police in front of the family.
“I am
Mr. Joseph Onminyi, the father of the deceased, late Peter Onminyi, who was
shot to d3ath by the police on May 19, 2024, in my own house, not even
outside,” he said
"No
reason was given by the police for their actions. They didn’t ask or tell
anyone about the offence he committed; rather, they just killed him while he
was eating in the dining room.
"The
police didn’t approach me, the father, or ask any of my children who were with
me in the room what offence my son had committed. They just jumped over the
fence, entered the house, and began shooting sporadically. They even shot at
one of my sons, who was eating at the dining table.
"Not
only that, after killing him, they took his body away and removed all the home
properties, including a radio, refrigerator, washing machine, gas cooker and
gas cylinder, as well as two motorcycles and everything else in the house
"I
think this action could be seen as armed robbery because they came unannounced,
and nobody was informed of what they were there for. Whether they came to
search for something or to investigate someone, they didn’t say anything; they
just shot and killed my innocent child.
"After
killing him, the police took his body away to an unknown destination. Up to
this moment, I don’t know where my son’s lifeless body is. Not only that, the
police locked my house.”
"They
locked the entrance gate to my house. My house has been locked and the key
withheld since the incident in May.
"My family and I have been
sleeping outside our home in an uncompleted building. I therefore appeal to
Nigeria and the entire world to come to my aid and address the police brutality
against innocent citizens,” Onminyi added.
While
mentioning that he had filed a case for breach of human rights against the
police, the deceased’s father accused the police of delaying the case in court.
“They
have refused to appear in court, which means the police believe they are above
the law and can disregard the judicial process,” he said.
The
spokesperson for the State Command, SP Catherine Anene, told the punch that
the case involved someone suspected of kidnapping and armed robbery.
“I am
aware of the case, which involved a boy who was suspected of kidnapping. I
think the police went there to arrest him, and during the process, one of the
boys exchanged gunfire with the police, and in the process, he was killed,” the
PPRO said.
“However, I am not sure of the
name, but I will get back to you. This happened around the Welfare Quarters in
the Makurdi area."
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