Businessman killed by alleged trigger-happy police officer for ‘refusing to give bribe’ in Aba

A businessman has died after being shot in Aba allegedly by a trigger-happy policeman.

Emmanuel Michael Okocha, from Abiriba Community in Ohafia local government area in Abia State, was travelling with his late father’s apprentice on Wednesday. April 17, 2024. 

They drove from Abriba and entered Aba through the Osisioma flyover. However, on approaching the area opposite Abayi Girl’s Secondary School, a team of police officers stopped them and asked for Mr Okocha’s car documents and driver’s license, which he quickly presented to them.

After confirming that the documents were complete, the police officer returned the documents to him and allegedly started demanding a tip.

The late Emmanuel replied to the officer that he had nothing to give him after wasting his time and started moving his car to leave the checkpoint only for another officer standing in front to turn his rifle and shoot at him without provocation, an eyewitness alleged. 

Mr. Emmanuel Michael Okocha was hit by the bullet and began shouting that he had been shot and the police team allegedly hopped into their car and drove off. 

The eyewitness drove the victim to the nearby Living Word Hospital before calling his attorney who joined him at MCC Police Station where the police team and the trigger-happy officer were identified by the eyewitness. 

Meanwhile, at the hospital, doctors immediately performed surgery to save Mr Okocha’s life but he succumbed to his injuries yesterday, Friday evening, April 19.

Subsequently, the Abiriba Community are demanding justice. They have called on the State Governor, Alex Otti to intervene to ensure that rogue officers in the police force and other security agencies get the message that the lives of innocent Abia State citizens must be protected without compromise.

In a statement released on Saturday, they wrote, “The Abiriba Community has been wounded and are saddened by the unprovoked, reckless and brutal murder of their promising young son. The philanthropic and kind-hearted father of the victim, Late Chief Michael N. Okocha whose time and wealth touched numerous lives and whose commitment/drive to Community Development is still visible in Abiriba after two decades of his demise must be watching from the spirit world to see how his beloved Abiriba will rally to ensure that those who brutally cut-short the life of his beloved son are served the justice they deserved.

“This ugly incident is a constant reminder that the Government needs to do more to checkmate the excesses of men and women in her Security Agencies. They should be made to understand that their job is to protect lives not to take it and firearms are only meant to be used in extreme danger to defend themselves against deadly attack.

“Late Mr Emmanuel Michael Okocha should not only Rest in Peace, he must Rest in Justice.”

The late Mr Emmanuel Michael Okocha leaves behind his wife and two young children.

Friends have gone on Facebook to mourn him while sharing photos of his lifeless body lying in hospital.