Some villagers from Ikwuano LGA of Abia State on Wednesday stormed the Anti-Cult Unit of the Abia State Police Command in Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA, with the lifeless body of Mrs. Williams, the wife of the Leader of the Ikwuano Legislative Council, Ejike Williams.
The late Mrs. Williams, who gave birth nine days ago, reportedly slumped and died on Wednesday after her husband and three other councillors were allegedly assaulted and detained by the Anti-Cult Police Unit following a petition purportedly written by a revenue agent.
The death of the nursing mother sparked protests in parts of Ikwuano, extending to Olokoro, as the villagers brought the lifeless body of the councillor’s wife to the Anti-Cult Police Unit, insisting that policemen at the station must take responsibility for her death.
The villagers, who arrived in large numbers, wept uncontrollably and lamented that the policemen refused to release the detained lawmaker to see his wife, who had given birth just a few days earlier.
Following the insistence of the villagers, a police team from the Anti-Cult Unit accompanied them to deposit the corpse of the councillor’s wife at Madonna Hospital Mortuary, Aba Road, Umuahia, to allow for full investigation.
Narrating the incident to journalists at Madonna Hospital on Wednesday, the Special Assistant to Governor Alex Otti on Digital Economy, Chimeremeze Emeruwa, said a police officer at the unit, known as “Tiger,” assaulted him on Tuesday for pleading for the release of Ejike Williams, the Leader of the Ikwuano Legislative Council.
“He pounced on me because I pleaded with the police to release the man to go and see his wife who just gave birth some days ago.
“Now the woman is dead. We will definitely take legal action against this high-handedness,” Emeruwa said.
He lamented that officers at the unit rejected peace efforts made by the Mayor of Ikwuano LGA, Anthony Nwaubani, claiming they only take orders from Governor Alex Otti and the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa.
Some councillors who were detained at the Anti-Cult Police Unit—including the bereaved husband, Ejike Williams, Sunday Uche Okoro, Ukazu Ejike and Akobundu Agomou—also alleged that they were beaten inside the cell by policemen and other detainees, despite paying huge sums of money to the police for bail.
They lamented that they were detained over an unsubstantiated petition allegedly sponsored by an individual.
Abia: Villagers protest with corpse of councillor’s wife at Anti-Cult Police Unit
