THE Family of Tariela Nikade, a 300 Niger Delta University (NDU) student allegedly killed by a police Sergeant, Timadi Emmanuel, on 23 November 2018 in Yenagoa, has raised alarm over an alleged plot by the Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Police to shield the killer-cop from the full arm of the law.
The elder brother of the diseased, Mr. Anderson Nikade, also claimed that an officer who “in pretence offered to help the family carry out an investigation on the murder of their son to a conclusive end and ensure that the killer-cop is convicted,” allegedly extorted the sum of N35, 000 from them for a Corona Inquest Form.
In a telephone chat with Nigerian Tribune, Anderson said “imagine the police asked the family of the boy to pay N35,000 to collect Corona Inquest Form at the State CID. They have also told us that we would have to pay N250,000 for the autopsy to be conducted on my innocent younger brother police killed.”
On the other hand, the family had accused the police of foot-dragging in order to deny them the justice they seek, saying weeks after the gruesome killing of their son, the police are yet to charge the killer-cop to court and have been demanding money from them for flimsy reasons.
But when contacted over the allegation, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Asinim Butswat, said investigation on the case is ongoing and the suspect would be charged to court soon.
“Concerning the issue of money being collected for autopsy for the deceased boy, as I speak with you nobody from the family has complained to me about what you are saying. However, as you know, this is a criminal case and we are taking our time to carry out our investigation on the case.”
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Also, DSP Butswat, had on November 27, 2018, announced that “in furtherance of the investigation on the death of Tariela Nikade by Sergeant Timadi Emmanuel under questionable circumstances on 23/11/2018, at Tenacious Road, Edepie in Yenagoa, the officer has been tried and dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force. The investigation is ongoing and he will soon be charged to court.”
Anderson Nikade in a petition said “since the gruesome murder of 20-year-old Tariela Nikade, an indigene of Agbere Community, a 300 Level Student Of Petroleum Engineering of NDU on the 23rd of November this year by Sergeant Timadi Emmanuel attached to the Akenfa Divisional Police Station, it is alarming to note that the Killer cop has not been charged to court.
“The Bayelsa State Police authorities led by the Police Commissioner has not deemed it civil to pay a condolence visit on the grieving mother and other bereaved members of the Nikade family.
“The Bayelsa Police Command has systematically frustrated the timely conduct of autopsy on slain Nikade Tariela. Could this be a tactical move to sweep this murder case under the carpet? For justice delayed is justice denied!
“Meanwhile, the Nikade family is compelled to incur the cost of the autopsy which amounted to N35, 000 as well as other associated expenses. On the strength of the above, I presume most Police Officers are fathers & mothers. How would they feel if their child’s body were lying cold in a morgue while those responsible carried on as nothing happened?”
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