Noel Okechukwu, a final-year student at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Igbariam, Anambra State, has been shot dead.
This incidence occurred at Senator Stella Oduah’s Estate, Akili-Ozizor Community in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to reports, the deceased was shot dead by local vigilantes affiliated with the estate on August 17, 2024.
Okechukuwu’s family members claimed that the victim was executed extrajudicially by community security.
Security officials, on the other hand, rejected the allegation, claiming that the youngster was shot because he was “looting and vandalising” property on the estate.
Speaking with our correspondent on Thursday, the boy’s father, Rex Okechukwu, revealed that local vigilantes shot his son dead inside the estate as he was about to buy fresh fish.
In a strongly worded plea reviewed by our correspondent on Thursday and sent to the Divisional Police Officer at Ogbaru Police Division, Atani, the father, alleged that the shooting occurred after an incident between the guards and his son, as reported by eyewitnesses.
The petition stated, “The incident occurred on Saturday, August 17, 2024. On that day, my son, Noel Okechukwu, a 27-year-old final-year student at Ojukwu University, had departed for Senator Stella Oduah’s Estate at Akili-Ozizor, a neighboring village, to buy fresh fish from a fish pond situated inside the estate.
“When he arrived at the estate’s gate, the private security guards guarding it denied him entry, and an altercation ensued between the guards and himself, resulting in one of the guards pulling the trigger of his pump action rifle and pumping bullets into his body, causing him to slump.”
“Soon after firing him down, the guards began giving him water to drink, and as soon as he drank some of it, he passed away, and the guards dispatched a biker to notify the devastated family of the tragic situation.
“We, as the family members, are demanding justice against the private guards because they had no right to take the life of our son in such a brutish manner.”
When reached on Thursday, Mr I. Andrew, the Divisional Police Officer in Atani, verified receipt of the petition.
Andrew went on to say that according to the report he had about the incident, the deceased was one of those who had been looting and vandalizing things inside the estate.
He responded, “Yes, we have received a petition on the alleged gunshot and homicide.
“But according to the evidence I had before me about the incident, the dead was one of those who had been robbing and vandalising property on the estate.
“Apart from that community being a known gunmen-infested area, they said the deceased was caught with his gang members armed with pump action guns looting and vandalising the estate, and when confronted, they opened fire on the security guards and the guards returned fire for the fire which led to his being gunned down.”
The DPO also stated that he had completed procedures to send the case file to the State Criminal inquiry Department for further inquiry.
