By Kamsi Anayo
The Anambra State Police Command, has reacted to social media report that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Central Police station demanded N350, 000 to release a corpse to the family.
DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, the command’s public Relations Officer in a statement issued on Friday said the corpse in question hasn’t been released because it’s not within the right of the DPO to investigate a murder case, and as such, the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
The police spokesman said the deceased was killed during a recent Cult rivalry in Awka, the state capital.
Ikenga also called on the twitter user @princenenchecfr who made the allegation to come to the Anambra State Police Command by 11am on Wednesday 7/12/2022 with evidence and witnesses when the DPO made the demand.
The statement reads:
“Update on the alleged demand of three hundred and fifty thousand naira against the DPO CP’s Awka to release a corpse by a twitter handler @princenenchecfr.
“The Command wishes to inform the members of the public that said corpse has not been released, just as I earlier said it is not within the powers of the DPO to release corpse or to investigate murder cases. The case has been transferred to State CID for proper review and consolidation of information before us.
“Recall on Saturday 26/11/2022, there was rivalry Cult shootings that took place in Awka and this led to the murder of a young man. The Command already has three suspects in custody and investigation is still ongoing.
“The Command also wants to use this medium to invite the Twitter handler @princenenchecfr to Anambra State Police Command by 11am on Wednesday 7/12/2022 to come with evidence and witnesses of persons when the DPO demanded the sum three hundred and fifty thousand naira from him and later the corpse was released. This will enable us come out with facts of what transpired.
“The Command, while thanking the members of the public especially our followers on their comments and reactions, we urge you to sustain it and note that, it is such that help in our decision to improve on our services.”
