NAN-H-70
Killing
By Desmond Ejibas
Okarki (Rivers), Oct. 25, 2016 (NAN) Residents of Okarki community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers have continued to appeal to the Federal Government to ensure that justice was done in the killing of their son, Joseph Izu.
Izu, a Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) FC defender, was allegedly murdered on Oct. 16, by trigger happy soldiers under the Joint Taskforce curbing the activities of the militants in the state.
The residents who spoke to a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the community described Izu’s death as what they called “extra-judicial killing’’.
However, some claimed that Izu was caught in a cross fire which ensued between some cultists and the soldiers who raided a hideout of the earlier to arrest one Osuakina Oko, 36.
Oko, an alleged notorious secret cult leader, was also shot dead during the operation, is accused of murder, rape and kidnapping and one who refused amnesty from the Rivers Government.
NAN learnt that the incident occurred when soldiers raided a dreaded cultists’ hideout, simply identified as “Ghetto Shrine’’, alleged to be a meeting place for secret cultists and peddlers of hard drugs.
Some of the residents told NAN that the army used excessive force and said they did not follow the rules of engagement during the operation in the community.
Andrew Deliniah, 25, who claimed he witnessed the shooting of Izu, said she was preparing food in the kitchen when she overheard gunshots apparently from soldiers.
Deliniah, whose home shared close proximity with the shrine, said she rushed out from her apartment to find out what was happening but was ordered by one of the soldiers to go back.
“And so, I ran inside the house and later peeped from the window and saw when a soldier shot a man (Izu) on his leg — of which the soldiers later asked Izu what he was doing at the shrine.
“Thereafter, he tried to identify himself but he was later shot a second time on his buttocks and dragged towards the direction of the shrine.
“I was terrified while this ordeal lasted, and so, after the soldiers left the scene; I came out from my house and saw blood everywhere,’’ she said.
Stanley Arugu, the President of Okarki Youths, said that Izu was not shot at the Ghetto Shrine but at a primary school few metres away from the shrine.
Arugu, who said he did not witness it, said the late footballer was shot on his leg and later on his waist after he had attempted to identify himself.
“Izu was a very peaceful man who normally visits the shrine to smoke and fraternise with the Ghetto; but I cannot say if he was a cultist or not.
“The action; we are not saying that it is wrong but the manner in which they carried out the operation is unacceptable.
“As leaders of the community, the army ought to have informed us prior to the operation or at least tell us to fish out bad boys in our community,’’ he said.
However, the paramount ruler of Okarki kingdom, Chief Elijah Aduan, commended the army’s operation in his community, adding that the people had long been terrorised by Oko and his group.
Aduan said that he had on several occasions warned youths of the community against indulging in cultism and drug use but that Oko and his gang members did not heed to his advice.
He said that “as custodian of Okarkiland, I have proclaimed that nobody should go to that place they call ghetto shrine to smoke and take hard drugs.
“I even ordered my youths to destroy that place while banning everyone to desist from going there, and so, it is unfortunate that whoever that fell victim (in the raid) should take it like that.
“After destroying the ghetto, Oko and his group went and rebuilt the place, and so, I cannot condemn the action of the army for raiding the site,’’ he said.
Aduan, however, faulted the army for not informing the community leaders prior to its invasion of the community.
A suspect currently in army custody, who identified himself as Bright, said he was with the late 3SC player at the shrine when troops invaded it.
“When I arrived at ghetto, Izu was there, and suddenly we saw soldiers approaching, and so, everyone made attempt to flee the scene.
“Everyone, including Izu ran away while some of us dived into the water (Orashi River) to escape arrest.
“But when I couldn’t escape from the water, and thereafter, saw that it was the Nigerian army, I quickly raised up my hands to surrender myself to them,’’ he said.
Bright, an indigene of Okarki, described ghetto as a place where “boys’’ go to smoke cigarette and marijuana, adding that Oko was the owner of the place.
NAN could not reach the army authorities in Rivers over the allegation but a top army source, who spoke anonymously, described Izu’s death as unfortunate.
The source pointed out that soldiers did not go to the stadium or Izu’s father’s house to kill him but that he was simply found at the “wrong place at the wrong time’’.
“Izu may not have been a secret cultist but one wonders what he was doing at the hideout at the time of the operation,’’ the source said.
NAN recalls that Brig.-Gen. Hamisu Hassan, the Commander of 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, told journalists on Oct. 19 that a full scale investigation had been ordered by the army.
The army general said the investigations would unravel the circumstances that led to Izu’s death as well as determine what the 3SC player was doing at the shrine. (NAN)
DES/PDE
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(Edited by Peter Ejiofor)