Abia Police Release Body of Truck Driver Killed in Alleged Accidental Shootout
The Abia State Police Command has finally released the body of Chinedu Ukwu, a 62-year-old truck driver who was killed by a stray bullet during an alleged shootout between two police teams in Aba, Abia State.
Mr. Ukwu, a father of four, lost his life on 14 August 2024 when he was hit during a gun battle. He was originally from Ikpeze-Uno, Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, but resided in Aba, Abia State, where he worked as a truck driver.
Following the incident, some residents claimed that the police officers involved in the shootout may have mistaken themselves for members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a pro-Biafra group seeking secession from Nigeria. IPOB has been linked to several violent clashes in the South-East and South-South regions of the country.
However, in a statement on 15 August 2024, the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Maureen Chinaka, dismissed the claim that police operatives mistook themselves for IPOB members and fired at each other.
She maintained that while the police confirmed a shooting in the area, which resulted in Mr. Ukwu’s death, there was no credible evidence linking the gunfire to a mistaken identity conflict.
Ms. Chinaka, then an assistant superintendent of police, later told PREMIUM TIMES that the deceased was hit by a stray bullet during a confrontation between police operatives and suspected hoodlums. She also suggested that there was no conclusive evidence that the bullet originated from the police.
In the wake of Mr. Ukwu’s death, his family called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure justice for their slain relative. By November 2024, the family publicly lamented their deteriorating financial situation, struggling to survive after losing their sole breadwinner.
A major concern for the family was the police’s refusal to release Mr. Ukwu’s corpse, despite repeated pleas.
Speaking to Peopleofabia in November, the family head, Daniel Ukwu, revealed that the police had blocked the family from accessing the body at the mortuary. The police reportedly claimed they were keeping the corpse because they suspected the deceased was an IPOB member.
“We have waited for them for more than two months to come up with their findings, but we haven’t seen anything,” Mr. Ukwu stated in frustration.
On 21 January 2025, the Abia State Police Command finally released Mr. Ukwu’s body to his family, ending months of tension and uncertainty.
“They gave us the tally and letter of authority to bury (the corpse),” Daniel Ukwu confirmed.
The decision came three days after the family submitted a petition to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, over the police’s refusal to release the corpse. The Abia State Government subsequently ordered an investigation into the family’s complaint.
“We were invited to the Abia Government House, where we wrote a statement, and the governor ordered an investigation into our petition,” he explained.
Following the intervention, the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) handed over the mortuary tally and burial authorization letter to the family on Tuesday, 21 January 2025.
Despite the release of the body, the family head lamented that no police representative had visited their home since the tragic incident. He appealed to the state government and well-meaning Nigerians for assistance, given the family’s financial struggles after losing their breadwinner.
According to the burial arrangements forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Chinedu Ukwu will be laid to rest on 21 February 2025 in his hometown of Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area, Imo State.
The family has called on friends, relatives, and sympathizers to join them in bidding farewell to their beloved father, husband, and brother, whose life was tragically cut short.
