by crossriverwatch admin
The police in Calabar have asked the wife of a Vehicle Inspection Officer, VIO who disappeared on his way to work on the 15th of May, 2014 to buy an ‘investigation tracking machine’ worth N450,000 for the police to facilitate their investigation into the disappearance of her husband.
CrossRiverWatch had in May, 2014 exclusively reported the disappearance of Mr. Fred Akpama, a serving VIO who was overseeing Abi and Yakurr local government zones. The family promptly reported the incident to the police in Abi, Yakurr and Calabar.
Mr. Akpama’s car and his two handsets were later found along Ediba Enukwama Community by Kito Company. But 118 days after, the police is still not able to unravel the circumstances surrounding his disappearance; rather the Investigating Police Officer, IPO of the matter in State CID, Calabar, Mr. Joseph is asking the wife of the missing VIO to buy an investigation Tracking Machine of N450,000 to help the police track calls on her husband’s phone before his disappearance.
In a statement released by the family of Mr. Akpama and signed by Mr. James Ekat, a cousin to the missing VIO, the family decried the slow pace of the investigation and expressed worry about the level of diligence and seriousness of the police over the matter.
The statement which was made available to CrossRiverWatch read in part: “It is very disappointing, regrettable and frustrating to the family and friends of a Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) in active service with ministry of work under VIO department Mr. Fred Akpama who was overseeing Abi and Yakurr Local Government zones who disappeared on his way to work on the 15th of May, 2014 that after his vehicle, two handsets were found along Ediba Enukwama Community by Kito company, he has till today not been found after 117days and the culprits not apprehended.
“The families have made concerted efforts to report the unfortunate case to the police in Abi, Yakurr and state CID division, Yakurr, Abi LGA and copies of the story sent to Cross River Radio, CrossRiverWatch, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of Police, State Ministry of Works and Vehicle Inspecting Office where he served. But nothing tangible has come out of these efforts.
“Mr. Fred Apkama left behind a wife and four children, brothers and sisters who are today clamoring for justice. The Police have not made enough effort to communicate with the network providers (MTN, Airtel or Globacom) to track the numbers that called him before and after the incident.
“However, the latest request from the IPO state CID is that the family should purchase an investigation tracking machine which is valued for N450,000 How do the police expect the family to raise this amount of money? Also since then we have not heard from the IPO concerning the case.
“The questions begging for answers are: why has the IPO and other security agencies refused to process and follow up this case to arrest the people involved?
“Are there vested interests in the matter that have hindered the investigation?
The statement queried.
Attempts to reach the IPO were futile at the time of filing this report as his telephone number was switched off.
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