Family Petitions IGP Over Slain Fire Officer

DISSATISFIED with police investigation and prosecution of suspects in the murder of late Thaddeus Luka Ayabam, a retired fire officer, the family of the deceased has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, calling for fresh investigation and prosecution.The late Ayabam was alleged to have been dragged out of bed in the early hours of October 30, 2011, at his Gboko, Benue State residence and shot by unknown gunmen.His widow, Mary, reported to the police, saying she suspected Mr. Salem Atsehe, Director General of Services and Administration in Gwer local government area of the state, following a land dispute between his family and that of her late husband.Consequently, Mr. Atsehe and 13 other suspects were arrested and charged to court in connection with the murder.However, a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court presided by Mrs. Cecilia Bakare before whom they were arraigned, discharged all the accused persons on the ground that there was no evidence linking them to the crime.This came after she ordered their remand in Makurdi prison where they spent 35 days.In a petition to the new Commissioner of Police in charge of the Benue State Police Command, the family has requested a more thorough investigation into the murder.A Makurdi-based legal practitioner, Mr. T. Oscar Aorabee, Managing Counsel of Elohim Chambers, signed the petition dated March 21, 2012 on behalf of Nduul, Om and Akinde families to which the deceased belonged.It was entitled 'Shoddy investigation into the gruesome murder of Mr. Thaddeus Luka Ayabam leading to discharge of named suspect/request for more thorough investigation.''Some elements have connived and conspired to sweep this most dastardly act under the carpet in spite of the fact that our clients strongly suspected that Salem Atsehe was behind the sinister act,' the petition read in part.
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