The family of a 300-level University of Port Harcourt (UniPort) student, Godwin Akpakpan, is crying out for justice after accusing the Nigerian Police of fatally shooting the 23-year-old and engaging in an elaborate cover-up to conceal their alleged crime.
Godwin, described as “gentle, full of life, and the third of seven siblings,” had been missing since April 16, 2025. His devastated relatives told SaharaReporters that he disappeared after watching an Arsenal football match.
“My brother went missing last Wednesday on his way home,” a family source recounted, voice trembling with emotion. “He was a 300-level Education student at UniPort. We called his phone the next day, but a police officer answered and told us to come to the State CID, Homicide Department.”
At the Rivers State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), police officers coldly informed the family that Godwin had been shot and killed — allegedly by an army personnel during a bizarre encounter involving a mini-bus and a police patrol from the Dragon Division (formerly SARS Road, Port Harcourt).
According to the police narrative, a mini-bus carrying Godwin and others was stopped for a search during which police allegedly found hard drugs. As the police were transporting the suspects to the station, an unidentified “soldier” at a nearby checkpoint supposedly opened fire in a botched rescue attempt, with a stray bullet allegedly killing Godwin.
“The story was riddled with inconsistencies from the start,” a family member insisted. “They didn’t even give us a copy of the so-called police report. They kept us waiting endlessly at the station and seemed desperate to delay and confuse us.”
The family’s suspicions only deepened when they were finally permitted to view Godwin’s body at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital mortuary. What they found shattered their hearts.
“There were two gunshot wounds in his stomach, bruises all over his hands and forehead, and a deep injury on his back. His body was covered in sand. This was not a clean incident,” the family source said, fighting back tears.
Even more chilling, they discovered that while they were still frantically searching for Godwin, police officers had already deposited his body in the mortuary — without informing them.
“When we confronted the officers, they grew evasive. They held secret meetings among themselves and returned with conflicting stories. They even warned us not to investigate the location ourselves, claiming it was too dangerous because ‘those soldiers are useless and might shoot us,'” the source recalled in disbelief.
Refusing to be intimidated, the family pressed on with their own inquiries, visiting the supposed crime scene near Alakaya along the East-West Road. What they uncovered shattered the police’s account: the address in the police statement did not match the actual location, and there were no indications of military presence in the area.
“This is a blatant police killing,” the family declared unequivocally. “Soldiers are not stationed there. It’s the police who operate that axis — and this isn’t the first time they’ve been involved in such atrocities.”
Adding insult to injury, no officer has been held accountable. Inspector Festus, from the State CID Homicide Department, was reportedly responsible for depositing Godwin’s corpse without family consent — a shocking breach of procedure.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters obtained photographs of the mini-bus involved in the incident, bearing registration number YAB-476XG, clearly showing bullet holes. Grisly images of Godwin’s body also confirmed extensive trauma and injuries consistent with brutal force — aligning with the family’s account and further discrediting the police version of events.
When contacted by SaharaReporters, Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed she was aware of the matter but has yet to issue an official comment.
As the Akpakpan family continues their heartbreaking quest for justice, one thing remains chillingly clear: Nigeria’s police brutality epidemic has claimed yet another young, promising life — and the system seems determined to bury the truth along with Godwin.
PIONEER NEWS 