What We'll Do Against Police Over Ozubulu Killings, Joy Odama's Death - HURIWA

The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), has alleged that the Nigerian Police is in the process of sweeping under the carpet, the alleged killing of 19-year-old female student of Cross Rivers State University Miss. Joy Odama by one Alhaji Usman I. Adamu in Abuja.

The pro-democracy and Non-Governmental organization, also condemned the "lack of action" by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris on the attack by gunmen on Saint Philips Catholic Church Ozubulu, Anambra state on Sunday August 13th 2017.

HURIWA said the Anambra state police command and the office of the Inspector General of Police seems to be colluding to maintain conspiratorial silence on the crime and allegedly failed to embark on any comprehensive investigation into the bloody attack on the worshippers.

In a statement made available to DailyPost on Friday by the group's National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, it condemned the rapid deterioration of professionalism in the Nigeria Police Force under the current dispensation which has led to the piling up of several unresolved crimes that happened in different parts of Nigeria.

The group said the last time it reached out to the police high command in Abuja about two months ago, it was informed that the Inspector General of police has sent the file of Alhaji Usman Adamu to the director of public prosecution for action.

The statement reads, "We are shocked that the office of the Federal Attorney General has refused to take action to bring the alleged murderer to speedy trial before the competent court of law. Does the office of the Attorney General of the Federation require eternity to prosecute a suspect allegedly linked to the gruesome murder of a young female student or is it because she isn't a daughter of a chieftain of All Progressives Congress?"

"HURIWA recalled that the Nigeria Police had announced on June 28th 2017 that it has arrested Alhaji Usman Adamu, the alleged murder of one Joy Odoma, a 200-level mass communication student of the Cross Rivers State University.

"HURIWA also recalled that the deceased mother, Mrs. Philomena Odama, had petitioned the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, over the murder of her first daughter, Joy.

"In the petition, Mrs. Odama, alleged that Joy was murdered by one Alhaji Usman Adamu, who had offered to give her job at the NSCDC.

"HURIWA recalled that consequent upon the petition, the police IGP, Ibrahim Idris purportedly declared Alhaji Adamu wanted and ordered immediate investigation over the incident but the Rights group believes the hierarchy of the police may be shielding the alleged murderer because of his extensive reach within the top echelons of the security circles.

"HURIWA accused the police of engaging in a well crafted hide-and-seek game on this matter just as the Rights group expressed consternation that the office of the Senate President has also failed to properly activate mechanisms to investigate the allegations that the police was indeed undermining the forensic investigation of the gruesome killing of Miss Joy Odama.

"HURIWA recalled that the police had initially stated that: 'the principal suspect Alh. Usman I. Adamu is the owner of Flat 3, Ibro Quarters Karimo Abuja, where Joy Odama was found dead in the morning of 21/12/2016.'

"HURIWA however believes that the deliberate slow approach to the matter shows that there is a plot to scuttle the prosecution of the alleged murderer.

"HURIWA recalled that to ascertain the actual cause of death of Joy Odama, an autopsy examination was carried out by a Pathologist Dr. Jibrin Paul with National Hospital, Abuja was released to the Police on the 10th May, 2017 which revealed that Joy Odama died of cocaine poisoning occasioned by cardiogenic shock secondary to difusion. But ironically, the police ordered for a