Killing by Naval Personnel Sparks Protest in Owerri North

There was pandemonium in Awaka, a community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State capital when one of the naval officers on a stop-and-search operation along the Owerri/Umuahia expressway allegedly shot dead a pedestrian.

The tragedy, which occurred around 6pm on Saturday, made the youths of the community to go on a reprisal and seized the AK47 belonging to the trigger-happy naval officer.

Angered by the shooting, the youths of the community set ablaze a building which served as a guest house for naval officers.

It was learnt that one of the naval officers had ordered one of his colleagues to shoot the victim, an order the suspect didn’t hesitate to obey.

A source said, “One of the naval officers ordered his colleague to shoot the victim and he immediately obeyed the instruction. The victim died on the spot.

“The youths of the community attacked the naval officers. One of their rifles was snatched from them .The building which served as a guest house for them since December was set ablaze.”

A detachment of policemen from the state police command has since taken up residence in the area to restore normalcy and avoid further breakdown of law and order.

The police spokesperson in the state, Mr Andrew Enwerem, who confirmed the shooting, also informed newsmen that the AK 47 rifle belonging to the naval officer was snatched from the him by the angry youths of the community buy have been recovered by the police.

The police spokesperson said, “We received a distress call that a naval officer at Awaka shot and killed a civilian. The state Commissioner of Police, Dasuuki Galadanchi, mobilised operatives of the community to the area.

“Our men engaged the angry youths who snatched one of the AK47 rifles belonging to the naval officers in a dialogue. The snatched AK47 was recovered by the police and the remains of the victim have been evacuated.

“The CP has ordered an immediate investigation into the shooting and killing of the civilian. The state CID has been asked to take over the investigation process.”

However, there is still tension in the community as the indigenes demand for the removal of the naval checkpoint from their community.