Two ex-SARS officers die of murder in Rivers

By Amaechi Okonkwo, Port Harcourt

Two former officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS were sentenced to death by hanging by a high court in Port Harcourt on Friday
The officers were convicted of extrajudicial murder.

ASP Samuel Chigbu, Shedrack Ibibo, Magus Awuri, Ogoligo and Olisa Emeka stood trial for the murder of Michael Akor and Michael Igwe while in custody for stealing recharge cards in Oyigbo, Oyigbo Local Government Area in 2015.

But ASP Samuel Chigbu and Ogoligo are said to have died in custody at the Port Harcourt correctional center, while Shedrack Ibibo, Magus Awuri and Olisa Emeka continue the trial.

Trial judge, Justice MO Opara, found Shedrack Ibibo and Magus Awuri guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in her verdict, while Olisa Emeka was acquitted.

In its reaction to the verdict, the Board of Public Prosecutors expressed happiness by telling journalists that justice has been done in the case.

She said: ‘The court found that they were actually guilty of the murder of the two deceased persons.

“The court dismissed and acquitted Olisa Emeka on the basis of the court’s findings because the prosecution failed to prove its case regarding the latter person.

“From the verdict, justice has been done to the family of the deceased and that makes me happy.

“It will hopefully serve as a deterrent to other police officers and also provide some kind of closure to the families of the deceased.”

Kathrine Akoro, the mother of one of the people killed, also expressed her joy at the verdict and said that the police officers would now taste their own medicine.

She said: “They killed my son, robbed our belongings in 2011. My son told me to forgive them, let them go and bring the things they took.

“I said if you have all those belongings with you, bring my son, you will be fine. I thank God that He fought for me. I’m happy.

“They said that place is good for all who killed innocent souls and sent them to the grave by force. They’ve already tested it. The remaining ones here today, they tested them.”