:Appeals To Uzodinma.
Irked by the gruesome murder of Late Engr. Levi Opara which allegedly took place at Tiger Base after undergoing series of torture as allegedly directed by the wife, Mrs. Chioma Opara over a mere family misunderstanding, the family of the deceased has demanded for justice, seeking that the perpetrators should be made to face the wrath of the law.
This is even coming as they also appealed to His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma not to interfere in the lawful procedures of the matter as alleged by the Commander of the Tiger Base zone.
In a cry for help, the complaint, Iheoma Opara, daughter of the deceased who spoke on behalf of her siblings, Davidson Opara, Johnson Opara and Chioma Opara, noted that their late Father, Levi Opara, aged 46, who hails from Ezedibia, Emekuku in Owerri- North LGA, had a mere family misunderstanding with their mother, Mrs Chioma Opara, upon which the mother involved a police informant who took the matter to Tiger Base.
Subsequently, their mother in conjunction with Police informant identified as Anthony Nneji, Team Leader, Blessing and the IPO, Moses arrested their dad, Mr. Levi Opara on Sunday, the 15th day of October, 2023. When they got the information of their father’s arrest, they quickly rushed to the Police on the 16th October, 2023 with their Family relatives, where they met their father hale and hearty without any sign of illness ,but all efforts to secure his release/ bail to enable them resolve the family issue failed as they were asked to come back on Wednesday, 18th October, 2023.
In her words, ” When we came back on Wednesday, we were shocked when the IPO and team leader notified us that my father who was never sick or suffering from any form of illness the day he was arrested was dead. On further inquiries, both the IPO and team leader informed us that he was at the police Clinic but later changed and said he has already been deposited at the Federal Medical Center, Owerri.”
” On arrival at the said Federal Medical Center, we saw the lifeless body of our father, Late Engr. Levi Opara and on a closer observation, discovered that my father’s corpse had several bruises as well as knife cuts on his neck which was hurriedly stitched either before or after his death”.
” As against the wish of the Police, the family fought by writing a petition to the Inspector General of Police ( IGP) demanding that autopsy of the body be done with our consent and in the presence of our own medical personnel. The scheduled autopsy which was to be carried out on Thursday 19th October, 2023 around 10am was thwarted as the Police refused to show up on the agreed day.
She further stated that the Inspector General of Police approved their petition and ordered the immediate arrest of all those involved in the murder as the matter was ultimately transferred to zone 9 Umuahia.
Furthermore, Iheoma Opara disclosed that the autopsy and toxicology on the body of late Levi Opara was eventually carried out and report produced, sent to Assistant Inspector General of Police Umuahia upon which the family requested for the release of the mortuary tally to enable them bury the deceased which was granted after much considerations and Late Engr. Levi Opara was buried on 15th, December, 2023.
” After the burial, the family requested that the file be transferred to the office of the Director of Public Persecution, DPP , Owerri, Imo state for immediate arraignment of all those involved in his death.The DPP made recommendations after a comprehensive evaluation of the police file sent to the Ministry of Justice by the Assistant Inspection of Police and recommended for the arraignment of all those involved in the murder of late Levi Opara. But until now, they are still delaying the arraignment of the Police officers and those involved in the said murder, giving room for interference which is delaying the arrangements of those involved in the murder.
Currently, my family and the community are in total disarray and shocked at the wicked and gruesome manner in which my father was killed. And since the perpetrators have been identified, arrested, autopsy and toxicology conducted with the report submitted to all parties involved which signified the conclusion of investigation, I’m wondering why the Police have continued to delay the immediate arraignment of those involved”, she added.
She however alleged that “the Commander of Tiger Base, Ola who ordinarily does not want his men to be charged to court for murder is roping the name of the Governor, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, which he said directed that the charge should not be made. But we are aware that our amiable Governor cannot involve himself in matters of such nature. I further appealed to our justice-oriented Governor to use his position to hasten the charge and Persecution of the perpetrators to avert the incessant manhandling of the poor masses by security agencies as we might never tell whose family will be the next victim”, she submitted .
All attempt to speak with the Tiger Base Commander proved abortive as his cellphone was not available at the time of filing this report.
