The commissioner of police in Enugu State, Mr. Nwodibo Ekechukwu, may be under investigation by the Police High Command in Abuja over his roles in the killings in Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani community in the early hours of Monday, April 25, 2016, and would likely face serious disciplinary action if the heavy allegations of serial misconduct leveled against him are substantiated.
Ekechukwu is being investigated for his failure to prevent the invasion of the Fulani Herdsmen into the community as evidences before the high command indicated that he gave assurance to the governor of the state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, of his readiness to prevent the invasion but failed to do so.
Reports revealed that he deceived the governor and members of the state executive council when he gave them the assurance that he would foil the attack.
His failure led to the massacre of the people and the wanton destruction of property in the community last Monday April 25, 2016. Inspector general of police, Mr. Solomon Arase had visited the community to assess the level of damage, where he directed the police who was said to have connived with the Herdsmen to be prosecuted.
At a press conference held on Saturday, April 30, 2016, Ugwuanyi told journalists how the police commissioner gave assurances to the state executive council, indicating that he would mobilise his men to foil the attacks by dispatching the area commanders of Nsukka and also assured of contacting the commissioner of Kogi State, whom, according to the governor, he claimed had dispatched his men to where the Fulani militia converged before proceeding for the attack.
The governor said “he assured that the Police Anti-Terrorism Unit was at Nimbo. That he was in contact with the Kogi State Commissioner of Police and reported suspected herdsmen grouping at Odolu in Kogi State preparatory for an attack on Nimbo and Abbi communities. That Police Mobile Force (PMF) and conventional police were already drafted to Nimbo and Abbi communities.
“That he was in touch with the area commander, Idah, ACP Ikegwuonwu and had linked him with the area commander, Nsukka, ACP Monday Kuryas. Both men according to the CP, reported that there were no traces of suspected herdsmen in Nsukka or Idah.”
Investigations, however, revealed that there might be several pending reports of misconduct leveled against Ekechukwu from many other quarters as it was learnt that “many DCPs and ACPs in the Enugu State Command are showing open anger against the said activities of the CP”, who is said to belong to the Deeper Life Bible Church whose members are reputed for their piety and integrity.
The Mbaise, Imo State-born Nwodibo Ekechukwu, a lawyer who is reportedly on his first-ever tour as command CP with his current posting to Enugu State, earlier this year, was the CP-Legal at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Ekechukwu is billed to retire next year and if he is indicted in the on-going investigations, it will be a smear to his service record at the twilight of his career.
