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Family accuses police of cover-up in UNIPORT student’s death

Posted by Gistsnaija. on 2 May, 2025 | under News
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The family of Godwin Akpakpan, a 300-level student at the University of Port Harcourt, is seeking justice after he was allegedly killed by a stray bullet fired by military personnel. The incident occurred on April 16, and the family is disputing the account of events provided by the police.

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According to Godwin’s brother, Francis Akpakpan, the deceased had gone to watch a football match at his lounge and later returned home. However, when Francis tried to reach Godwin by phone, he was unable to get through. The next day, a person claiming to be a police officer informed Francis that Godwin had been shot by military personnel.

The family’s attempts to investigate the incident have been met with resistance from the police, who allegedly warned them not to probe further. The police claim that Godwin was killed by a stray bullet during a stop-and-search operation, but the family disputes this account.

The Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that the police had stopped a vehicle conveying Godwin and some passengers, and upon searching the vehicle, they discovered a parcel of Indian hemp. The police took the vehicle’s occupants to the station for further interrogation, but on their way, they encountered a group of people engaged in an altercation with some military personnel.

Iringe-Koko claimed that the police officers tried to intervene but were unable to do so, and as they were proceeding, the military personnel shot at the vehicle, hitting Godwin. The police took him to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

The family and human rights groups are demanding justice and an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Godwin’s death. The coordinator of the Take It Back Movement in Rivers State, King Amanyie, described the killing as “a grave violation of human rights and an unacceptable abuse of power.”

Amanyie demanded an immediate, transparent, and independent investigation into the matter, stating that the officers involved must be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.