The Kogi State Police Command has acknowledged the tragic incident involving Barrister Elias Ugwu, who was mistakenly killed last Friday in Alade village

The Kogi State Police Command has acknowledged the tragic incident involving Barrister Elias Ugwu, who was mistakenly killed last Friday in Alade village, Dekina Local Government Area of the state.

Ugwu, who had gone to pay ransom for his kidnapped cousin, encountered a police team that fatally shot him under mistaken identity. The police admitted their error in the killing of the lawyer from Nsukka.

According to a statement released by the Public Relations Officer, SP. Williams Anya, on Thursday in Lokoja, the police mistook the late lawyer for a member of an armed robbery gang that had robbed several banks the previous day.

The police statement, titled "Setting the Record Straight," explained the sequence of events: "On 07/03/2024, Armed Robbers invaded Anyigba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, robbing three banks and attacking police stations. A Tactical Team was deployed to the area to restore normalcy and track down the perpetrators."

"The Tactical Team received reports of suspicious individuals in a bush around Alade Village in Dekina Local Government, driving an Ox-blood Toyota Avalon Car and seeking directions from villagers. This vehicle matched the description of one used by the armed robbers. Upon attempting to stop the car, it fled, prompting the officers to fire shots at the tires to halt it. Three individuals were in the vehicle, including the driver and two others."

The statement further clarified that Ugwu's death was a regrettable case of mistaken identity during the intense pursuit of the armed robbery suspects.

The Kogi State Police Command expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and assured the public of its commitment to ensuring such tragic errors are avoided in the future.