TWO EX-POLICE OFFICERS TO DIE BY HANGING OVER EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING, SAYS THE COURT IN ENDSARS

Two former members of the Nigerian Police Force’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad have been found guilty and given death sentences by a state high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for extrajudicial killings.

The judge, M.O. Opara, said at the hearing that the two defendants, Magus Awuri and Shedrick Obibo, would be executed by hanging, according to the Punch newspaper.

The judgment’s delivery date was not specified by the newspaper.

The five SARS team members, including an Assistant Superintendent, Samuel Chigbu, Olisa Emeka, and Ogoligo, who were on trial for the deaths of Michael Akor and Michael Igwe while in their custody, included the convicts.

The men who were killed in 2015 were charged with stealing recharge cards from Oyigbo, Oyigbo Local Government Area, in Rivers State.

However, while the three others were still being tried, Messrs. Chigbu and Ogoli, two of the police officers, passed away while being held in the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Port Harcourt.

Messrs. Ibibo and Awuri were convicted guilty of conspiracy to commit murder by Mr. Opara, who also found Mr. Emeka not guilty.

Speaking to media following the verdict, the prosecution’s attorney stated that Mr. Emeka was cleared because they (the prosecution) were unable to establish their case against him, but noted that the victim’s family had received justice.

The prosecution attorney stated that the incident “will hopefully serve as a deterrence to other police personnel and give some type of closure to the families of the deceased person.”

Mother of one of the murdered guys, Katherine Akoro, was ecstatic by the verdict.

She predicted that the cops would also get a dose of their own medicine.

“In 2011, they stole our property and killed my son. My son advised me to pardon them, let them go, and return the items they took.

I advised you to bring my son and I’ll be fine if you’re carrying all that goods. I give God praise for standing up for me. I’m content, remarked Mrs. Akoro.

SARS, a contentious police unit, was charged with involvement in extrajudicial killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion, torture, and suspect framing.

The unit was disbanded in October 2020 following many probes into its operations and after Nigerians protested against EndSARS in the streets.