The Kogi State Police Command has admitted to an error in the killing of lawyer Elias Ugwu last Friday, acknowledging that he was mistakenly targeted. Ugwu, who hailed from Nsukka, was killed in Anyigba while attempting to pay ransom for his kidnapped cousin.
In a statement released yesterday in Lokoja by the Public Relations Officer, Williams Anya, the Kogi Police Command clarified that Ugwu was misidentified as a member of an armed robbery gang that had robbed banks and attacked police stations a day earlier.
According to the police statement, a Tactical Team deployed to restore normalcy in Ayingba, Dekina Local Government Area, received reports of suspicious activity in a bush around Alade Village. Upon spotting a car matching the description provided by villagers, the team attempted to stop it. However, the driver failed to comply and attempted to flee, prompting the officers to fire shots at the car’s tires, bringing it to a halt.
Tragically, it was discovered that the occupants of the car, including Ugwu, were not involved in the robbery but were in the area to negotiate a ransom for a kidnapping victim. Despite this revelation, the confusion led to gunfire, resulting in Ugwu’s fatal injury.
The statement expressed condolences to Ugwu’s family and acknowledged that the incident could have been avoided if the occupants had stopped when signaled by the police. The Commissioner of Police extended sympathies to the deceased’s family and emphasized the need for cooperation with law enforcement to prevent such tragic mistakes in the future.