The Anambra State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called for urgent action by the Nigeria Police Force over the alleged killing of Master Noel Chinedu Okechukwu, the only son of a former secretary of the council, Comrade Rex Peters Okechukwu, describing the prolonged delay in the pursuit of justice as deeply troubling.
In a communiqué issued after a review meeting on Friday, the council said it carefully examined a petition submitted by the bereaved father concerning the circumstances surrounding the death of the 27-year-old student of the Department of Theatre Arts at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
According to the account presented to the council, the deceased was reportedly shot dead on August 17, 2024, by private security guards attached to the estate of former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah, located at Akiri-Ozizor in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The family maintained that the young man had only visited a nearby local pond to purchase fresh fish when the fatal incident occurred, an event that has since sparked lingering questions and growing calls for accountability.
The council noted that the family has filed several petitions to relevant authorities, including the Anambra State Police Command, Police Zone 13 Ukpo, the Office of the Inspector-General of Police and the Anambra State Government, but lamented that the appeals have yet to attract the decisive attention required.
Consequently, the NUJ urged the Nigeria Police Force to immediately expedite action on the matter to ensure that justice is served and public confidence in the justice system is not further eroded.
The council also appealed to the police authorities to consider the family’s request for the withdrawal of the case file from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for reassignment, to allow for the conduct of a proper autopsy and the completion of all processes necessary for the arraignment of the suspects before a competent court.
Expressing concern over reports that the family has been denied access to the body of the deceased, the NUJ described the development as distressing and called on the police to promptly disclose the whereabouts of the corpse and grant the family access to it.
According to the council, such a step would help calm frayed nerves and assure the bereaved family that the case is receiving the seriousness it deserves, especially as the family has already indicated its readiness to bear the cost of the autopsy.
The NUJ further urged the police to apprehend the prime suspect and any other persons who may have played roles in the incident for thorough investigation, stressing that a transparent process would prevent possible lapses.
It added that the council should be kept informed whenever the trial eventually begins, noting that journalists have a responsibility to keep the public accurately updated on developments in the case through responsible reporting.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the Secretary of the NUJ Anambra State Council, Dr. Okechukwu Onuegbu, and the Chairman, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, who expressed confidence that swift and decisive action by the relevant authorities would ensure that justice, though delayed, is ultimately served and allow the family to finally lay their slain son to rest.