How Ebonyi University student died in road crash while being chased by police

The Ebonyi State Police Command has provided details regarding the unfortunate death of Ayogu Evans, a 300-level student of Ebonyi State University, who lost his life in a road crash while allegedly being pursued by police officers on Saturday, December 2.

According to the State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, Evans, a sociology student, sped away during a routine “stop and search” at a checkpoint along Nkaliki Road in Abakaliki, the state capital. The pursuit ended in a ghastly car crash.

Contradictory reports suggest that passersby rushed Evans to the hospital after the accident, where he was later pronounced dead. A source claimed that the police officers, who were allegedly chasing him, fled the scene but returned later to move his damaged vehicle to their station at Liberation Estate.

However, the police spokesman refuted these claims, stating that the police officers did not run away. Instead, the victim was already being taken to the hospital by citizens before the police arrived. The officers then towed Evans’ vehicle to the division’s station.

The police statement explained, “The action of the driver (Evans) raised the suspicion of the police operatives, which made them pursue the vehicle. The driver did not stop till he was involved in an accident along Oriuzor Road.”

Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Augustina Ogbodo, addressed student leaders, promising a thorough investigation into the matter. The statement urged citizens to report any unprofessional conduct by police officers and assured that disciplinary actions would be taken against any erring officers.