Family protests police killing of 27-year-old varsity student
A final-year student at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State, Noel Okechukwu, has been shot dead.
The incident occurred at Senator Stella Oduah’s Estate in Akili-Ozizor Community, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Reports indicate that Okechukwu was shot by local vigilante operatives assigned to the estate on August 17, 2024.
The victim’s family alleges that the local security forces acted extrajudicially in killing Okechukwu.
The allegation was, however, denied by security operatives, who claimed that the boy was shot because he was involved in “looting and vandalizing” property in the estate.
Speaking to newsmen on Thursday, the father of the boy, Rex Okechukwu, stated that the local vigilante operatives shot his son inside the estate as he was going to buy fresh fish.
In a strongly-worded petition, which was sent to the Divisional Police Officer at Ogbaru Police Division, Atani, the father alleged that, according to eyewitnesses, the shooting occurred after an altercation between the guards and his son.
The petition read: “The incident occurred on Saturday, August 17, 2024. On that day, my son, Noel Okechukwu, a 27-year-old final-year student of Ojukwu University, had gone to Senator Stella Oduah’s Estate in Akili-Ozizor, a neighboring community, to buy fresh fish from a fish pond located inside the estate.
“When he arrived at the gate leading into the estate, the private security guards stationed there denied him entry. An altercation ensued between the guards and him, which led to one of the guards firing his pump-action rifle, shooting bullets into my son’s body, causing him to collapse.”
“Soon after shooting him, the guards began giving him water to drink. However, after consuming some of the water, he died, and the guards sent a motorcyclist to inform the bereaved family of the tragic incident.
“We, as family members, are demanding justice against the private guards because they had no right to take our son’s life in such a brutal manner.”
When contacted on Thursday, the Divisional Police Officer at Atani, Mr. I. Andrew, confirmed receipt of the petition.
Andrew added that the report he had received regarding the incident was that the deceased was among those who had been looting and vandalizing property inside the estate.
He said, “Yes, we have received a petition concerning the alleged shooting and killing.”
“But the report I have concerning the incident is that the deceased was among those who had been looting and vandalizing property inside the estate.
“Apart from the community being known for gunmen activity, it is alleged that the deceased was caught with his gang members, who were armed with pump-action guns, looting and vandalizing the estate. When confronted, they allegedly opened fire on the security guards, who returned fire, resulting in the deceased being shot.”
The DPO further stated that he had arranged to transfer the case file to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.
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