Soldiers allegedly kill 10-yr old boy, 2 others during market demolition in Owerri (Photos/Video)

Men from the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, on Saturday allegedly shot and killed a 10-year old boy, Somtochukwu Ibeanusi, over the demolition of Owerri Main market, popularly known as Ekeonunwa.

The soldiers were said to have been deployed to maintain law and order during the forceful demolition of the market in the Imo State capital by the state government on Saturday.

While many others who sustained gunshot wounds following the alleged gun attack by the military men are said to have been hospitalized, the fracas that ensued sequel to the effect of the gunshot reportedly left two other people dead.

Narrating the incident to newsmen in Owerri, the father of the 10-year-old child, Isaiah Ibeanusi, claimed that the military men shot his son at the back of his head and he died instantly.

He added that he was shot at MultilChoice Line while he was trying to evacuate his goods during the demolition.

He said, “While I was trying to remove my goods from the shop, I was quickly alerted that my son had been shot by the army. I quickly rushed to the scene and I could only see my son stone dead. He was shot at the back of his head. He died on the spot. The Army people that shot the bullet did not care, they quickly moved on.”

Among those who sustained gun wounds as a result of the alleged indiscriminate shooting were an old man, as well as a youth leader by name, Leonard Ebubeagu.

Read also: RIVERS: Police dismiss, arraign sergeant who allowed ritual killer to escape

It was learnt that the death of the child snowballed into a protest as Owerri natives threatened to set fire to the property belonging to some residents said to be related to the state governor. The threat according to reports led to a fight between the owners of the properties and the protesters.

The state government and the natives of Douglas Road area of the state were the market is located are said to have been at loggerhead over government’s decision to relocate the market to a new site.

It was gathered that the state government recently issued an evacuation order to the traders advising them to relocate to a new site but that they refused.

Recall that the state government had last year allegedly refused to clear refuse dumps on the market area over the protracted issue involving the relocation of the market.

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now