By Chizoba Njaka
The Anambra State Police Command has denied allegations that officers at Abagana Police Division demanded N100,000 in connection with a complaint involving a missing wristwatch valued at $500, saying the matter remains under investigation. The command also dismissed claims of unlawful detention, explaining that the police intervention was aimed at establishing the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the wristwatch and identifying those responsible.
The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in an official statement issued to journalists in Awka on October 22. According to the statement, the complainant reported to the police on October 17 that a wristwatch sent from abroad by a relative for delivery to an uncle in Nwafia had gone missing.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the complainant had entrusted the wristwatch to a brother for delivery to the intended recipient. However, the brother reportedly went to the wrong premises after relying on information that a tyre was usually displayed in front of his uncle’s shop.
At the vulcanising workshop, he met a man identified as Igwe Arinze, whom he mistakenly believed to be his uncle’s employee. Arinze reportedly informed him that his master was away, prompting him to hand over the wristwatch for onward delivery without realising that he had reached the wrong location.
When the intended recipient denied receiving the item, Arinze was invited to Abagana Police Division for questioning. During the interview, he reportedly explained that the wristwatch had been given to him for safekeeping and that he later handed it over to his employer, identified as Simon Tochukwu, upon his return.
The police statement further disclosed that Simon, who was initially unavailable, returned on October 20 and admitted receiving the wristwatch from his employee. However, he allegedly claimed that he later returned it to the employee and instructed him to discard it because he believed it was an old wristwatch.
Further questioning indicated that the item might have been thrown into a pile of discarded tyres. Subsequent efforts to recover it were unsuccessful, leaving its whereabouts unresolved.
Ikenga explained that the parties were questioned to reconcile their conflicting accounts and establish the circumstances surrounding the receipt, transfer and alleged disposal of the property. Following the interviews, the suspect was released and directed to return to the Division on October 23 for further clarification and follow-up investigations.
The command firmly denied that N100,000 was demanded in connection with the case, maintaining that the police action was intended to establish the facts surrounding the missing wristwatch.
It reiterated that officers are expected to perform their duties professionally, impartially and in accordance with the law, adding that any credible allegation of misconduct brought to its attention would be treated seriously.
The police assured the public that the investigation would continue and that appropriate lawful steps would be taken upon its conclusion. It also urged members of the public to report genuine concerns about police conduct through the appropriate channels.
Chizoba Njaka is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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