The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Sir Chidi Lloyd, PhD, on Saturday visited the Rivers-East Senatorial Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Princewill Obodo and his family, following the unfortunate death of his son, Anthony Obodo, who was recently shot dead along the AGIP-Rumueme axis of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, by a trigger-happy police officer attached to the Rumueme/AGIP Estate Police Station.
Sir Chidi Lloyd during the visit to the bereaved family at their AGIP Estate residence in Portharcourt , condemned the killing of the unarmed young man by a supposed law enforcement officer, whose duty it is to protect the lives and property of citizens, describing the unfortunate development as a tragic incident and a big loss to the family and the people of Rundele ( ward 7), Emohua Local Government Area.
The Emohua Council Boss, while expressing his heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family, affirmed confidence in the leadership of the Rivers State Police Command in unraveling the incident that led to the death of the young man, in line with established laws and the code of conduct guiding the operations of the Police Force.
According to the father of the deceased, Princewill Obodo, his son, Anthony Obodo, aged 22years , was until his death a young graduate awaiting his call-up letter from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
He narrated how his late son was driving alone along the AGIP Road in Rumueme, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area when a team of police officers attached to the AGIP Estate Police Station chased the vehicle to the point where one of the police officers shot directly at him after deflecting the vehicle tyre with gun shot, causing the vehicle to sleep-off the road to hit pedestrians along the ever-busy AGIP section of the Ada-George Road .
The visibly heartbroken Princewill Obodo, said his late son was never a crime suspect, and questioned the reason why he was shot dead like a convicted criminal by a team of law enforcement officer attached to the same police division covering his family’s place of residence.
He called for thorough investigation into what he described as the extrajudicial killing of his son, to bring the killers to face the full wrath of the law.
Princewill Obodo thanked the Emohua Local Government Chairman for identifying with his family in their moment of grief, describing the visit as a show of solidarity and sympathy towards the bereaved family.