The family of the slain 20-year old Emmanuel Victor, on Saturday, asked the police to make public the names of the policemen who killed her son at a checkpoint along Sani Abacha Expressway, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.The request came two days after the State Police Command said that it had arrested three police officers in connection with the incident and subjected them to an in-house trial.Speaking to SUNDAY PUNCH, Grace, the mother of the deceased implored the police to release their names to members of the public.According to her, since it is a murder case, the police should not be seen as shielding the identities of the suspects.She said, "Now that they are undergoing in-house trial, the police should let us know the names of the policemen. This will go a long way in proving the transparency and honesty of the police in this matter. We need their names and their ranks. We also want their pictures to be published."Findings show that the state police command had been under intense pressure by the Force Headquarters to fast-track its investigation following widespread criticisms that trailed the incident that occurred on October 16.The new state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hillary Opara, had reportedly ordered the immediate detention of the three officers who were said to be on duty at the checkpoint when Victor was shot in the presence of his mother.It was also found that the commands Criminal Investigation Department had concluded its findings and submitted its report to the commissioner.The police boss was said to have faulted the claims of the suspected killers and immediately ordered for their trial.The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Eguaveon Emokpae, who announced the trial of the suspects in Yenagoa said, "The command is disturbed by the barrage of publications concerning the death of Emmanuel Victor in the hands of the police on October 16 along Sani Abacha Expressway, Yenagoa."The impression being given by the media is that the command is not taking any action about it. But the CP on assumption of duty took appropriate action by arresting the policemen involved and ordering an investigation. The investigation has not exonerated the policemen. Because of these, they are now on trial, after which they would be made to face the wrath of the law."The police as a responsible organisation do not condone indiscipline let alone issues bordering on extra-judicial killing. The outcome of the prosecution of the offenders would be made public to show that the command has nothing to hide particularly in cases concerning abuse of human rights".SUNDAY PUNCH also learnt that Grace, the mother of the deceased was invited on Friday during the orderly trial to give evidence.She was said to have met the commissioner briefly in his office in company with her lawyer, Mr. Richard Turner, before proceeding to the venue of the trial.Opara had assured the traumatised woman that the police would ensure that justice was done in the matter, adding that her evidence was necessary to facilitate the trial.He said, "We are not insensitive at what happened. We did not send our men to kill people. They are sent to protect lives and that is why we created the checkpoints. Any police officer who commits this kind of offence will carry his cross."Although our correspondent was taken to the venue of the trial to see the suspects whose names were kept under wraps, he was not allowed to witness the proceedings.It was however gathered that during their trial, one of the suspects confessed shooting Victor several times, claiming that the deceased inflicted injuries on the officers.He was reported to have said, "I shot him several times, but I didnt know that the bullets were getting to him."
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