Policemen who killed UNIZIK Law student re-arrested

Four fugitive policemen who allegedly killed a final-year law student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Augustine Ugwu, in Nsukka, Enugu State, have been arrested.

The policemen – the Officer-in-Charge of the Nsukka anti-cult unit, DSP Nnamdi Ochin; and three police sergeants under him, Emmanuel Ibiam, Godwin Abel, Abu John – were arrested on November 2020.

They, however, allegedly escaped from police custody in Enugu before detectives from the homicide department of the force headquarters rearrested them.

A source told our correspondent on Sunday that the suspects were moved to Abuja on Thursday.

The source disclosed that the body of the late student had been recovered from the shallow grave where they buried him and moved to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital for autopsy.

“The crack squad that was investigating the murder compromised and wanted to destroy all evidence. That was why the IGP transferred the case to the homicide department and they are doing the needful,” he added.

Recall that Augustine, a 500-level student of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University was arrested by the local anti-cult outfit in a beer parlour on April 23, 2020.

They were said to have shot him in the leg and handed him over to the officer in charge of the anti-cult unit, DSP Ochin.

But a few hours later, he was declared missing in police custody.

A panel later found out that Augustine was killed and buried in a shallow grave by the policemen.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the re-arrest, adding that the case was being handled by the Homicide Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The father of late Augustine, Ugwu, also confirmed the development.

“The detectives from the homicide department called last week to tell me that they had arrested them. As we speak, they are in the homicide cell in Abuja,” he added.