Just in: Journalist’s son shot dead by trigger happy security operative in Anambra

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

Master Chinedu Okechukwu, an undergraduate of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State and son to former secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Anambra State chapter, Rex Okechukwu, was allegedly shot dead by a trigger happy private security operative at Okili-Ozizor, Ogbaru Local Government Area.

The incident which occurred few days after his return to their Ochuche country home, at about 8.30 am, weekend, started when the son, aged 27, informed his father that he wanted to eat fresh fish and left to procure the fish at a fish pond located within the premises of Senator Stella Odua Estate, in Akili-Ozizor, a neighbouring community.

It was gathered that barely 30 minutes afterwards, a motorcyclist rushed into their compound at Ochuche community and informed his father that his son has been shot dead by an irate vigilante operative in the estate, which shocked the father to the marrow.

Reacting to the incident, the father told newsmen that, “I am utterly shocked and devastated over such brutish action considering the brief period of his departure. From intelligence reports gathered there were altercation of words between my son and two security guards during which one of them pulled out a rifle and opened fire on him. As he fell down in coma one of them offered him water which he consumed and died.

“It is sad to observe that irresponsible, half baked/or untrained persons are now allowed to carry arms under the guise of security which has culminated to killing of innocent people in cold blood.

Besides the gun trolling, guards should be interrogated on why they took the law into their own hands rather than handing my son over to the law enforcement agents if he had behaved absurdly instead of using fire arms to decimate his life,” he stated.

In a petition to the Divisional Police Office, DPO, in charge of the area, Mr. Andrews, titled, “Gruesome murder of my 27 years old undergraduate son by private security guards in Akili-Ozizor,” comrade Okechukwu demands immediate arrest, discrete investigation of the matter and prosecution of suspect adding that justice delayed is justice denied.

“Permit me to highlight that my son was neither armed with arms nor lethal objects during the visit hence the vicious attack in his life is barbaric and uncalled for, more so, the scene of the incident is a public place. Such man’s inhumanity to man ought to be probed beyond all reasonable doubts.

“In the light of the foregoing’s, the bereaved family cries out demanding that justice, equity and fair play should be served on this matter. May we further request that a post mortem examination be performed on the deceased in a bid to determine the cause of his death please,” the petition from the father read in part.

When contacted, the DPO, Mr. Andrews, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation is ongoing.