By Chinedu Okeke, Owerri
A woman, Mrs Joy Ogoma Victor has cried out for justice after her brother was shot dead by a combined team of security agencies who had carried out a reprisal attack on a community in Ahiazu Local Government Area of Imo State.
It was gathered that trouble started when some gunmen attacked a police checkpoint and shot two officers dead.
The incident led to chaos as a deployment of military men stormed the area and allegedly started mass shooting and burning of properties.
According to Mrs Joy Ogoma Victor “as the shooting and burning of properties continued, her brother, who is staying with the husband, Mr Ndudi Onyeukwu in a shop at the location, tried approaching the military men to explain to them that they were not involved in the killing of the policemen.
“However, before he could talk, they shot him dead for daring to come close to them.
“At that point, my husband and the other boys in his shop took to their heels.
“They set his shot ablaze, leaving nothing, likewise many other shops, tricycles and vehicles.
“They occupied the place from 6th November, 2003 when the incident happened till early December.”
She lamented that it was shocking when they learnt that her husband had been declared wanted by the security agencies.
“They said the two policemen were killed by IPOB and ESN people, but my husband is not a member of the group.
“He is a known businessman that does his legal business and everyone knows him.
“They murdered my brother unjustly, now they are still after my husband.
“I am demanding justice for my slain brother; I am also calling on them to leave my husband alone.
“He has been running from one place to another since this happened. Life has become so miserable for me and my children,” she said in tears.
Asked about the whereabouts of the husband, she said he was out of the country and was in danger of being arrested and executed for a crime he knows nothing about if he returned to Nigeria.
Meanwhile a senior military officer confirmed to our correspondent that all shop owner around where this incident happened must have questions to answer, because saying they had the information that this gun men has been parking there motor around them for over one week before the attack, claiming that they knew them.
“We are suspecting that they are all members of the IPOB and ESN.
“They should provide those who killed two policemen. We must get them,” he declared.
