The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Tuesday gave reasons why a 7-year-old boy has remained in police custody for over six weeks now.
DAILY POST reports that Chibuike Miracle Oramalu was arrested on the 30th of May, 2016, after he mistakenly fired a shot from a gun, killing another teenager in a neighbouring compound.
His detention has since been attracting protests from civil society organizations.
The primary 2 pupil, had on Sunday, the 29th day of May 2016, at their residence in No.5/7, Robito Cresent, Independence Layout, fired a gun mistakenly, killing another teenager.
According to a source, “Chibuike’s mother, Mrs. Nwakaego works as a cleaner and house keeper at the earlier mentioned address. She was employed by the owner of the property, Mr. Edwin Oforma who also gave her and her children accommodation on the property.
“On Sunday, the 29th May 2016, while Mrs. Nwakaego was away to Adoration Ministries for the church Sunday service, the son of her employer, Chukwunanu Oforma, a National Youth Service Corps member asked the little Chibuike and his 10 year old elder brother, named Ifeanyichukwu Oramalu to clean and tidy up his fathers’ room (Mr. Edwin Oformas’ room).
“We were further informed that while the two children were cleaning up the room, Ifeanyichukwu was sweeping while Chibuike was tiding-up the bed. Chibuike saw a gun near the bed and carried it; he showed the gun to the brother Ifeanyichukwu who asked him to return the gun.
“While Chibuike was returning the gun, he mistakenly pulled the trigger and a shot went off, shattered the glass window of the room, pierced the wall of the next building, passed out on the other side and hit a 12 year old boy, named Oluebube Boniface on the chest. Oluebube died instantly. Chukwunanu the landlords’ son ran away and he and his father have not been seen till date.”
Following the incident, policemen from the New Haven Police Division arrested the teenager.
However, speaking to journalists during a press briefing at the Enugu State Police Command, Ojukwu said Chibuike was in “protective custody”, not in detention.
According to him, the gun incident, which led to the death of a neighbour attracted angry reaction from residents, who had moved to lynch Chibuike, alongside her mother.
“The community rallied round to kill the boy; so, we had to put him in protective custody; we already lost one person owing to that unfortunate incident; we didn’t want to lose another person.
“We also protected the house because the angry residents wanted to set it ablaze. As we speak, policemen are still guarding the compound; we don’t want to lose another life or property”, the commissioner stated.
He further disclosed that under the law, the 7-year-old boy could not be charged for any crime, assuring that he would be freed in due course.
Earlier, he disclosed that the command had arrested 2o suspected cultists, armed robbers and kidnappers.
Ojukwu maintained that the achievements, being recorded by the command in the area of proactive crime control, were as a result of deep collaboration between the police, community leaders and other stakeholders.
He added that “all the suspects would soon be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction. The police will not condone such evil”.
The suspects, who were arrested within Ogui area of the State, New Haven, Eha-Alumona in Nsukka, included a syndiocate, which specializes in snatching ATM cards from members of the public.
One of the suspects, Michael Godwin Ugochukwu, who said he was a graduate of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, told journalists that “when we seize ATM card from a victim, we will force him to give us the pin; then one of us will go to an ATM to confirm the pin. When it is confirmed, we will now free the person.
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