BEVERLY HILLS, January 18, (THEWILL) – Business activities were halted abruptly in Aba following the alleged murder of a 20-year-old man identified as Chidozie Okafor, who was hit by stray bullets from soldiers sent to quell a protest by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
THEWILL gathered that Chidozie was returning from lunch, at about 1pm on Monday, when soldiers began shooting at IPOB members who made bonfires on the road, obstructing traffic and forcing people to close their shops in solidarity of their protest.
The only son of his parents and a native of Omuohu in Eziagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Chidozie, according to those that knew him, came to Aba in 2015, to learn how to trade in electronic appliances, empty discs and cassettes, and was until his death an apprentice at a shop on St. Michael Road.
Habila Joshack, Abia State commissioner of police, when contacted, said he was not aware of the death of the young man, revealing that he and his men were at the Ariaria Police Station at the time of contacting him, to ensure that the IPOB members do not burn the station.
Joshack could not confirm if his men used live bullets to control the protesters, noting that he told his men to manage the protests in such a way that lives and properties were protected and not lost.
The commissioner said the act of setting bonfires on the road to obstruct traffic was an act of recklessness and lawlessness, which must be stopped to ensure peace adding that there was a ban on public protests in the state.
Story by David Oputah
