Victoria Agori: says her son killed in her presence by police in Port Harcourt

By Edith Nwapi/Abuja

A woman Victoria Agori has told a panel set up by the National Human Rights Commission how policemen in Rivers killed her son in her presence.

Petitioner Mrs Victoria Agori made the statement while testifying on Tuesday.

The panel, sitting in Abuja, is investigating allegations of human rights violations against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Victoria Agori said she wants the killers of her son, Daniel Agori to be prosecuted.

She also wants the son’s body released to her for burial.

“Justine Adaka gave the order to kill my son and my son was killed right in my presence.

“Daniel Agori did not make any statement before they killed him like a chicken.

“These policemen are bad people. They called me mother of a kidnapper and cultist but my son was neither a kidnapper nor a cultist.

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“He was a footballer and hairstylist. He was to travel to Spain.”

When asked by James Idachaba, the respondent’s counsel, if the panel was the only place she had taken her case, Agori said she had sought the help of the Federation of International Women Lawyers(FIDA) and some human rights activists.

She told the panel that she had been threatened repeatedly by anonymous phone callers.

According to her, she left Port Harcourt because of the incessant threats.

Agori said that the police had been telling her for over a year that they were investigating the matter.

So far, she said the police are yet to produce an outcome of their probe.

Counsel to Agori, Mr Abiodun Olutekunbi, told the panel that the petitioner and her two sons, late Daniel and David and one Silver Ogbonna, Daniel’s fiancé were bundled to the Unit Command at Aluu in Ikwerre, Rivers on May 10, 2019.

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He alleged that on arrival at the station, after a brief chat between SP. Justine Adaka and DSP. Yusuf Bello, in the presence of the petitioner the policemen ordered that the Daniel should be killed immediately.

The counsel disclosed that the deceased was detached from a joint handcuff and blindfolded with a shirt and shot to death at point-blank range.

Olutekunbi also alleged that Daniel’s mum was bleeding from her private part because the nozzle of a gun was used by the policemen to assault her.

Asked what he wanted the panel to do for his clients, the lawyer said: “We want the panel to order the prosecution of SP. Justine Adaka, DSP. Yusuf Bello and Musa before a court of competent jurisdiction.

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“We also seek the order of the panel for the immediate release of the corpse of Daniel Agori for proper burial.

“We further pray for the order of the panel for compensation of one billion naira.”

He also prayed for an order of the panel to subpoena the public relations officer of the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit in Rivers.

The panel Chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadama, adjourned the matter until Jan. 26 next year for continuation of hearing.