Ogbaku youths condemn senseless shooting of unarmed indigenes by police officers

Urge, IGP, Imo CP to begin investigation into Ogbaku shooting, killing of villagers and bring the perpetrators to book.

Ogbaku Youth Association has condemned in strong terms, the senseless shooting of live bullets at Ogbaku indigenes at Ogbuke, (a densely populated area) along Ogbaku-Oguta road in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State on Thursday, August 25, at 7 pm, by men of the Nigerian Police Force, which resulted in the death of Peter Akanaedozi, a motorcyclist, and left another motorcyclist, Kelechi Oduoza with multiple bullet injuries.

Speaking during an emergency meeting on Monday, August 28, the youth body described the unprovoked shooting and killing of the villagers by armed officers who were apparently on a shooting spree while returning from Izombe, as untenable, disheartening and irresponsible and asked the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and Imo State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Ahmed Barde to begin the immediate probe into the Ogbaku Thursday evening shooting spree.

Hon. Chima Umejuru (Panadol), President of Ogbaku Youth Association reiterated that the community is in fear due to the reign of terror on innocent villagers who, up till now, are ruining in pain and counting the losses of that infamous shooting.

"While it is against the police rule of engagement the world over for officers to unleash terror on innocent citizens, our laws including the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria forbids one from taking innocent lives. We beckon on you - the IGP and Imo CP therefore, to use your good offices to dispense justice in respect to the Ogbaku Thursday evening shooting spree and killing, and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to book," the Youth Leader insisted.

The deceased, Peter Akanaedozi, a 42-year-old motorcyclist from Umugama, Okwu Ogbaku, was until his death, the coordinator of the Charismatic Renewal Group at St. Charles Catholic Parish Okwu, Ogbaku. "He was shot at Ogbuke that fateful evening while he was on his bike. He died in my arms, on our way to the hospital," lamented the deceased only brother, Johnpaul Akanaedozi.

Another victim, Kelechi Oduoza, a motorcyclist and native of Umuokwere, Okwu Ogbaku, who was also shot while on his motorcycle at Ogbuke, is receiving treatment for multiple bullet injuries at Kenechukwu Hospital, Uzele Ogbaku.

This is indeed a crime against humanity.

The blood of the innocent cries for help, the families of the victims are in sorrow, the land cries for justice and as a people, we urge the authorities to cause an investigation into this heinous act and serve justice to the oppressed.

 

Justice Chukwunatu Nwafor

Secretary General, Ogbaku Youth Association