Lai lied over killing of petrol attendant, says Abia state government

The Abia State Government has declared that, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed lied over the circumstance leading to the death of a petrol attendant in the State, insisting that the attendant was shot by police, contrary to the claim of the Minister.

Penpushing reports that, Chibuisi Okameme met his untimely death during a protest, and the Minister during a recent briefing of the presidential task force on coronavirus said the victim was killed by a motorist, and not the police.

“The petrol attendant was not actually killed by the policeman. Fact at our possession is that the policeman hit a Keke, people were protesting so during the protest another motorist hit the petrol attendant”, Mohammed said

“Well, it does not matter who killed, a life is very precious but we just wanted to establish the fact of the matter that the petrol attendant actually died when he was hit by an oncoming vehicle during the protest”, he added

Penpushing further reports that, the Abia State Government in reaction in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, John Kalu, however, insisted that the petrol attendant, was shot dead by a police officer, contrary to the Minister’s claims.

“The Honorable Minister was quoted to have said, among other things that, ‘What happened was that the policeman hit a Keke Napep and while the people were protesting, another oncoming vehicle hit the petrol attendant leading to his death. Nothing can be further from the truth!”,he declared.

“We wish to state categorically that information available to us suggests that one Inspector Osas Atsu of Ohuru Isimiri Police Division, Aba, allegedly shot and killed the late petrol attendant, Mr Chibuisi Okameme, of Green Mac Filling Station, New Umuahia Road, Aba, by aiming and firing live bullets at him in broad daylight and in the presence of many shocked eyewitnesses.

“The police authorities in the state are currently detaining the suspect in preparation for prosecution after due orderly room trial”, the commissioner stated, adding that, Abia State Government  was shocked by the statement credited to the Minister.

‘The State Government insisted on justice for the slain man. Abia State Government wishes to call on the Police authorities to expedite the arraignment of the alleged murderer of Citizen Okameme as we will not accept any cover-up or conspiracy to do same from any quarters’.

“May we reiterate that nothing short of justice for the grieving family and friends of the late hard-working young man will be acceptable to us. We also wish to call on the Honorable Minister to cross-check facts of the matter with the police authorities and immediately issue the necessary corrigendum to avoid being seen as part of a potential plot to cover up a matter that is certainly of public interest and which also involves the painful loss of human life through obvious abuse of firearms.”