Drama As Injured Petrol Dealer Leaves Hospital

...Family Suspects Foul Play

Published

Monday, October 7, 2024 at 12:51 PM

Written by Agbai Ogele Omerikpo

Drama As Injured Petrol Dealer Leaves Hospital



A mild drama is playing out in the case of a petrol dealer, Celestine Chidi Okolie who was shot on the jaw by armed bandits at Owerri Ebeiri Community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.


Mr. Okolie, the Manager of Total Filing Station Owerri Ebeiri was discharged from hospital after undergoing series of surgery to rebuild his jaw and restore his speech.


Our correspondent gathered that while Okolie is required to report at the hospital for periodic check up, a lot seems to have changed with the armed robbery case his family lodged with the local vigilance group Ebubeagu at Owerri Ebeiri.


His family suspects that the operatives of Ebubeagu might have been compromised.


According to his younger sibling, Emmanuel Okolie, on getting to Ebubeagu's Office on October 5, 2024, he discovered to his chagrin that the two suspects arrested over the case were now singing a different tune.


Emmanuel disclosed that the two suspects were now claiming innocence after initially admitting being members of the three -man gang that robbed their station on August 31, 2024.


He stated that the Ebubeagu is also claiming finding nothing incriminating against the suspects in spite of seeing a motorcycle robbed during the operation at the suspects' residence.


He added that the Ebubeagu could also not offer any proper explanation why they held the suspects for more than two weeks without handing them over to the police.


He expressed shock that it was on October 5 at his presence that the suspects made statement when the Ebubeagu has been holding them for over a fortnight.


Emmanuel further disclosed that the police at the Area Command in Orlu also rejected the suspects on the ground that they had been held by Ebubeagu longer than allowed by law and not knowing their health status.


When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO in the state, ASP Henry Okoye said the police did not reject the suspects on account of duration of detention by Ebubeagu.


According to him, the police is insisting on ascertaining their health status before taking in the suspects so that they will not die in police custody.


According to him, the Area Command Orlu was now ready to take in the suspects having ascertained their fitness.

He said; "I have contacted the Area Commander Orlu regarding the suspect, who was not rejected. 


"We simply requested a medical checkup for the suspect, who has been held by Ebubeagu for an extended period. 


"However, we have confirmed that the suspect is fit, he will be transferred to the State Headquarters for further investigation."

Edited By: Chinedu Eze

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