Barako community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday stormed the State Police Command with the corpse of their murdered chief.
Chief Levi Ndorbu Korgbara was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Friday afternoon while going to the Police Divisional Headquarters in Kpor to respond to an alleged invitation by the District Police Officer in charge of the division.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that the police had allegedly invited the monarch who is also the Chairman of Barako Council of Traditional Rulers for a peace talk with chiefs from Nwebiara.
It was gathered that on his way to honour the police invitation, the chief was ambushed and killed by some gunmen.
Angered by his death, the community took the remains of the chief to the police headquarters in Port Harcourt, alleging the police's complicity in the matter.
Speaking at the police headquarters, the community's spokesman, Mr. Kimanyieke Kesiop, said Barako people were not happy with the circumstance under which the chief was killed.
Kesiop alleged that the police was taking sides with Barako's rival community, regretting that the chief would not have been killed if he was not invited by the police.
According to him, Barako recently had lost about eight persons in different attacks allegedly carried out by people from Nwebiara.
"The police invited our chief for a peace talk, but on his way, he was killed by gunmen. We perceive that the police are working with our enemy community to be killing us. We decided to bring the corpse to the command so that the world will know what we are going through. Last week Tuesday (July 12), they killed our village town crier and the police were aware, but they did not do anything. This is how they have been killing our people and nothing has been done by the police to resolve the crisis," Kesiop said.
On arrival at the command, some police officers who were present, told the protesters to go to the divisional police officer in their community to get a police report.
The officer at the Police Control Room also urged the community to deposit the corpse in a mortuary pending an investigation.
When contacted, police spokesman in the state, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, denied the allegation that the police was working against Barako community in favour of Nwebiara.
Omoni said, "The DPO should not be blamed for the death. No DPO will invite people for a peace talk and send gunmen to kill the person. It is unprofessional. So, it is inconceivable."
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