The families of a Bayelsa State teenager, Master Innocent Kokorifa, allegedly killed by the police in Yenagoa, have concluded arrangements to bury the remains of the deceased.
The 17-year-old Innocent, first out of five children of Mr. Daniel Kokorifa, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, was shot dead in a mysterious circumstance by the police Anti-Vice/Anti-Kidnapping team along Airforce Road in Yenagoa, on August 18, 2016.
The deceased (Innocent), was said to be running an errand for his mother, Pere Kokorifa, when he was allegedly killed by the police about 11am on the fateful day.
But the state police command had in a statement shortly after the incident, claimed that the victim died in a gun battle between a three-man notorious armed robbery gang and the police team.
Father of the victim, Daniel Kokorifa, confirmed to our correspondent on Wednesday that Innocent’s remains would be buried in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, on Saturday (this week), since the autopsy had been carried out and cause of death known.
On the next step after the autopsy, Kokorifa said, “The country we are in has procedures and we cannot take laws into our hands. We are going to meet at the court and justice will prevail.
“I believe in the judiciary. They will do their job. There are cases they have handled and people have been sentenced to death and given penalties, so this one will not be an exception.”
It was learnt that the result of the autopsy carried out at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, indicated that the deceased actually died from the bullets fired by the police.
The autopsy was reportedly carried out by a pathologist at the FMC, Dr. E. P. Odoye, last Saturday.
However, the autopsy and the level of investigation so far, have continued to generate reactions from human rights group and lawyers.
An activist and lawyer, Ebikebuna Aluzu, expressed satisfaction on the recent attitude of the police by ensuring that a successful autopsy was carried out.
Aluzu, the prime mover of the #JusticeForInnocent Movement, said the autopsy was part of the due process required to aid the investigative process.
Aluzu, however, frowned on the manner the police were treating other aspects of the investigation with regard to the perpetrators of the killing.
The activist said, “Justice delayed is justice denied. But I believe that justice will prevail in this case.
Farewell Innocent
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