Suspect was shot in gun battle between cultists, police – Police officer tells Human Rights panel

The Nigeria Police has denied accusation of being responsible for the killing of a Nigerian citizen, Edward Dumisara, in Rivers State.
Representing the Nigerian Police Force, ASP Ameh Agbo narrated before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) investigative panel that Edward Dumisara was shot during a gun battle between the police and cultists in Bowe community in Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State.

The NHRC is investigating allegations of violation of human rights by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigeria Police.

Agbo led in evidence by his counsel, Gabriel Okpata, told the panel that Dumisara died on June 20, 2020.

He testified as a respondent in the petition, marked 2020/IIP-SARS/ABJ/117, filed by Confidence Leera, who alleged that his brother, Dumisara, was secretly abducted and imprisoned by the police.

Other respondents include SP Martin Samuel, DSP Essien Edet, the Inspector-General of Police, the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) “D” Division, Itam, Uyo; Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom.

Agbo highlighted: “Dumisara and his gang members blocked and robbed a vehicle conveying money for a company named Paddyman Nigeria Limited on July 1, 2019.

“The gang members also killed Sergeants Habila Saleh and Nasru Fate and attempted to kill Nnamdi Ihunukara and Innocent Onuoha.

“After killing the policemen, the gang members carted away one AK-47 rifle with number BE360676 with 30 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and a LAR rifle with the number 1694857 with 38 rounds of live ammunition.

“On June 19, 2020, we received an intelligence report that Dumisara’s gang members would be moving the arms from Bowe to Kobowe community; and that his team was instructed by the IGP to recover the arms from the gang.

“Based on this, we asked Dumisara to lead to where they normally meet. We trekked for about 30 minutes in the bush.

“Dumisara and Nnamdi Derek, alias ND, sustained gunshot injuries. We took them to the General Hospital, Bori, where we were told they could not handle them.

“Dumisara’s remains are deposited at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).”

He appealed to the panel to recommend to the Federal Government to compensate the families of the two policemen and the two civilian drivers.

While being cross-examined by the counsel for the petitioner, Victor Giwa, Agbo said that he first saw the deceased when he was first arrested on July 30, 2019 in connection with the kidnapping of Obianuju Anijemba.

Asked what the purpose of the N20,000 he received from the deceased and N5,000 from the petitioner on Sept 26, 2019 and Sept. 14, 2019, respectively, he said it was meant as appreciation.

“I had a covenant with my Lord that I will not receive bribe as a policeman. Dumisara gave me the money on his own voluntarily,” he said.

The third respondent, Essien Edet, also testified before the panel and urged the panel to strike out his name from the petition because he was an investigator and not part of the arresting team.

Chairman of the panel, retired Justice Suleiman Galadima, adjourned hearing to April 12 for adoption of written addresses.(NAN)