A middle aged man identified as Jude Oguzie was allegedly shot dead by men of the Imo state police command during a stop and search along Owerri Orlu road on Saturday, December 5.

The deceased who is an indigene of Amucha village in Njaba local government area was on his way to a wedding ceremony when he met with the officers who mounted a roadblock.

Eyewitnesses say the trigger-happy police officers allegedly shot Oguzie dead for refusing to stop. His body was deposited at the Federal Medical Center in Owerri.

Reacting to the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Isaac O. Akinmoyede, wondered why the officers refused to adhere to the rules guiding the use of firearms. He, therefore, ordered an investigation into the matter, with a view to unraveling the cause of the incident.

Akinmoyede in a statement said the officers involved have been identified, arrested, and are presently in custody.

While sympathizing with the family of the deceased, the police boss urged them to remain calm, as the Command will do everything possible to ensure that justice is done. He said he regrets the killing of the deceased under any guise especially now that the force is doing everything within its powers to put an end to incidents of brutality and incivility to members of the public.