Police Begin Probe into APC Rally Violence in Okrika
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone Six, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, yesterday started investigation into last Tuesday’s the attack on the governorship campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Okrika, Rivers State.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, had on Wednesday ordered Ogunsakin to carry out a fullscale investigation into the attack in which a policeman, Corporal Ifeanyi Okorie, was killed and scores of others, including journalists, were injured.
Addressing journalists yesterday after the inaugural sitting of the investigation panel at the Police Officers’ Mess, Port Harcourt, Ogunsakin said he would ensure that the culprits were made to face judgment.
His words: “You are aware I am the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone Six, and Rivers is one of the states under my watch. You are also aware that the Inspector General of Police has ordered that I carry out this investigation.
“So, we have commenced investigation into what happened at Okrika and we are putting together bits and pieces of what happened before and during the fracas. You are going to hear from us; we have started making enquiries. We have started consulting and we are trying to find out what really happened before and during the crisis at Okrika.
“You don’t give a time limit to investigation. Of course, it is going to be a thorough investigation. I cannot put a time limit on when it will end. What I told you is that we have started investigation and we are going to do a thorough job. We are going to make sure we cover all the grounds during the investigation and whosoever is found wanting; whosoever that is found to have committed any offence; that person will face justice.”
Ogunsakin disclosed that he had the cooperation of leaders of all political parties in the state in his investigation of the Okrika attack, adding that he would have an enlarged meeting with leaders of Okrika local government area tomorrow (Monday).