The Abia State House of Assembly has summoned the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Umuekea Police Station over the alleged killing of an indigene of the state, Mr. Abraham Okwukwe, during a police operation in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
The issue was raised as matters of urgent public importance on Tuesday during plenary by the member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, Hon. Dennis Chinwendu.
Presenting his motion, Hon. Chinwendu condemned what he described as the persistent cases of police brutality in his constituency, citing the alleged killing of his constituent, Mr. Abraham Okwukwe, on June 23, 2026.
According to the lawmaker, the deceased allegedly died after being assaulted by police officers during an operation reportedly led by an officer identified as Sunny.
He urged the House to invite the Divisional Police Officer of Umuekea Police Station, the Abia State Commissioner for Justice and the officer allegedly involved to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure justice for the deceased while preventing further cases of police brutality in the state.
“The people of Isiala Ngwa South deserve justice. No citizen should lose his life in such a cruel and unlawful manner,” he said.
Supporting the motion, Hon. Godwin Adiele, representing Ukwa West State Constituency, said no citizen should be subjected to jungle justice, stressing that suspects remain innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
He called for thorough investigation and disciplinary action against officers found culpable.
Ruling on the motion, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, sympathised with the bereaved family and described the incident as condemnable.
He directed that the Divisional Police Officer and the Commissioner of Police appear before the House on Tuesday to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Nobody should be killed. Even where an offence has been committed, the police know the proper procedure for handling suspects. Somebody must be held responsible,” the Speaker said.
In a separate motion, Hon. Chinwendu called on the Abia State Government to rehabilitate the Omoba–Umuekegwu–Amaekpu–Umuokoro Road in Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency.
The House subsequently urged the Ministry of Works to carry out palliative repairs on the worst sections of the road pending the implementation of the 2026 budget, where the project has already been captured, and mandated its Committee on Works to monitor implementation.
Hon. Godwin Adiele, representing Ukwa West State Constituency, raised concerns over the pipeline explosion that occurred in Owazza Community, Ukwa West, on June 22, saying the incident destroyed farmlands, residential buildings and other valuable properties, leaving many residents displaced.
He noted that findings by the Abia State Commissioners for Environment and Petroleum Resources attributed the explosion to facilities managed by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), which inherited the assets of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
Adiele urged the House to compel NPDC to provide immediate relief materials to victims, visit the affected communities to assess the level of destruction and pay adequate compensation to those affected.
He also called for the company’s management to appear before the Assembly to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident and outline measures being taken to prevent future occurrences.
The House adopted the prayers and further directed Hon. Adiele to liaise with the House Committee on Environment to ensure compliance by the company.
Earlier, lawmakers adopted the report of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Anti-Corruption and Due Process on the 2022, 2023 and 2024 reports of the Accountant-General and the financial statements of the Abia State Government.
The committee recommended the approval of the reports and urged the state government to amend existing laws to enable the full implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) Accrual Accounting System in line with the Abia State Audit Law.
During proceedings in the Committee of the Whole, lawmakers considered the report of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on a petition challenging the publication in the Abia State Government Gazette changing Ubakala Autonomous Community to Amibo Autonomous Community.
The Assembly also considered the report of the House Committee on Lands and Housing on the Abia State Real Estate, Landlords and Tenants Bill, 2025, as well as the Abia State University (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
However, consideration of the Abia Market Survey and Protection Bill, the Abia State Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund Bill and the Abia State Sports Development Fund Bill was deferred to a future legislative sitting.
