Science for Human Rights
Chinedu Ani
On 1 August 2005, at 2pm, Chinedu Ani and his friend asked a politician for financial support for the friend’s football career. According to a witness, the politician became angry and told the two that he “would deal with them seriously”. The politician made a complaint at a police station, claiming the two men were “armed robbers”. Around an hour later, the two men were shot by police officers and taken to the police station in the boot of their car. They
were kept in the boot for hours, driven to state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and back to Ogui police station, although no arms were found on them or in their car. After 5 pm, a police officer decided the men should go to hospital. When they reached the hospital at 6.15 pm, Chinedu Ani had already died; his friend was badly wounded. Chinedu Ani ’s family claim that the police prevented the two men for getting medical treatment. “My brother was losing blood fast. I demanded to see an officer to bring them to hospital. The police told me they don’t give hospital aid to criminals.”
On 9 September 2005, the Governor of Enugu State set up a Commission of Inquiry into the death of Chinedu Ani. The commission finalized the inquiry in November 2005 and sent its report to the Governor of Enugu State. To date, the report or the government’s whitepaper have not been made public, despite repeated requests by Chinedu Ani’s family. No steps have been taken to prosecute those responsible for his death. Chinedu Ani’s brother said of the one of the police officers involved: “After four years, he is still in the force; who knows how many people he has killed now.
Photo (c) Private
Location on map is approximate.
Chinedu Ani
On 1 August 2005, at 2pm, Chinedu Ani and his friend asked a politician for financial support for the friend’s football career. According to a witness, the politician became angry and told the two that he “would deal with them seriously”. The politician made a complaint at a police station, claiming the two men were “armed robbers”. Around an hour later, the two men were shot by police officers and taken to the police station in the boot of their car. They
were kept in the boot for hours, driven to state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and back to Ogui police station, although no arms were found on them or in their car. After 5 pm, a police officer decided the men should go to hospital. When they reached the hospital at 6.15 pm, Chinedu Ani had already died; his friend was badly wounded. Chinedu Ani ’s family claim that the police prevented the two men for getting medical treatment. “My brother was losing blood fast. I demanded to see an officer to bring them to hospital. The police told me they don’t give hospital aid to criminals.”
On 9 September 2005, the Governor of Enugu State set up a Commission of Inquiry into the death of Chinedu Ani. The commission finalized the inquiry in November 2005 and sent its report to the Governor of Enugu State. To date, the report or the government’s whitepaper have not been made public, despite repeated requests by Chinedu Ani’s family. No steps have been taken to prosecute those responsible for his death. Chinedu Ani’s brother said of the one of the police officers involved: “After four years, he is still in the force; who knows how many people he has killed now.
Photo (c) Private
Location on map is approximate.