I have not seen my husband since SARS arrested him in 2017 – Woman tells Anambra judicial panel

TRACKING___A woman identified as Mrs Amarachi Johnson has told the Anambra State Judicial Panel investigating cases of alleged police brutality that her husband was arrested and allegedly murdered by the officers of the defunct Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS), Awkuzu Unit, Anambra State in 2017.

Mrs Johnson told the panel on Thursday, November 5, that her husband, who was based in Benin Republic, was taken away by SARS officers from their residence at No1. Ichida Street, Awka, on August 1, 2017, on allegations that he was a kidnapper.

The mother-of-one, accompanied by her counsel, explained that her husband was arrested without charge by SARS officers from the Awkuzu Unit lead by one Okoi Ikpi.

She said that since the day he was whisked away till date, she is yet to see the corpse of her husband, She added that the officers also took away her refrigerator, her laptop, iPad, and some of her baby’s things.

Johnson said: “When they came to our house wearing F-SARS T-shirts, I asked them to show their identity cards, but the told me not to burden them and that I should marry another husband because the man I am living with will not return back alive again.”

She said that her husband, who was the breadwinner of the family, is an indigene of Aguleri community.

She added, “His death was confirmed to me when I approached the Anambra State High Court along with my lawyer few months after his arrest.

“I am using this opportunity to appeal to this honourable panel to investigate and compel the Police authority to pay a reasonable compensation to my family for upkeep and my husband’s proper burial.”

The chairman of the panel, Retired Justice Veronica Umeh adjourned proceedings to November 10 for further hearing.