Military Personnel Kill German-based Nigerian in Imo

Amby Uneze

Security operatives deployed to maintain peace in Imo State yesterday continued their alleged killing of innocent people as a German-based citizen of the state was shot and killed by a soldier at a military checkpoint in Owerri, the state capital.

Soldiers and policemen deployed to the South-east and Imo State in particular have been accused of killing innocent youths without provocation.

A soldier had earlier shot and killed a businessman, Mr. Noel Chigbu, at the Amakohia flyover in Owerri.

Noel was shot dead on the day he took delivery of his new Camry car and was driving home at the close of work.

The state police command was said to have told the family of the deceased that the soldiers said that they shot him because he violated their checkpoint rule.

Noel was the owner of Shawarma Zone in front of the Home Away Palace by Ukaigwe Hospital, Akwakuma junction, Owerri.

Noel’s wife was four months’ pregnant, while his son turned two years a day after he was killed by soldiers.

He also had a four-year-old daughter.

Five days before he was killed, soldiers had also killed a 100-level student of the Imo State University (IMSU), Miss. Divine Nwaneri, in front of the state Government House, Owerri.

Nwaneri, 24, was shot dead by soldiers, who were guarding the government house when she and her friends were driving through the area.

THISDAY gathered that in yesterday’s incident, a soldier shot and killed a German-based Nigerian, Mr. Oguchi Unachukwu who hails from Umuomumu Mbieri, in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State, while he was on his way to the Sam Mbakwe Airport to board a flight back to Germany enroute Lagos.

According to sources, a combined team of security operatives who were on stop-and -search operation at a military check point stopped him and his family, and also ordered them to step out of the vehicle.

It was gathered that after identifying himself, there was a heated argument between the deceased and the security operatives, before one of the soldiers shot and killed him in the presence of his family.

Though the reasons for shooting him were unknown, THISDAY gathered that that that apart from Nwaneri and Noel, several other innocent youths had allegedly been shot in the same style by soldiers and policemen deployed to the state.

Meanwhile, when contacted, the Army Public Relations Officer, 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze Imo State Lieutenant Babatunde Zubairu said he was yet to get any brief on the incident.

He promised to give the true position of the incident as soon as he was briefed.

THISDAY gathered that security personnel in Imo State have killed many innocent people, claiming they were unknown gunmen or members of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) or Eastern security network (ESN).

Several other people have also disappeared after being arrested by these security personnel.