NIGERIA: Owerri Market Demolition: Soldiers allegedly kill 10-year-old boy, injure others

Somtochukwu Ibeabuchi was shot on the back of his head and died instantly

A ten year old boy, Somtochukwu Ibeanusi, was allegedly shot dead by military men from the 34 artillery brigade, Obinze, who were deployed to maintain law and order during the forceful demolition of the the Owerri Main market, popularly known as Eke-Ukwu Owerri by the state government on Saturday. Many others were said to have been hospitalized as a result of gun shot wounds allegedly fired by the military men.

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The father of the child, Isaiah Ibeanusi, said that the military men shot his son at the back of his head and he died instantly. Ibeanusi, who spoke to newsmen said that the tragic incident occurred at MultilChoice Line while he was trying to evacuate his goods during the demolition. The grieving father who spoke in Igbo language said, “While I was trying to remove my goods from the shop, I was quickly alerted that my son had been shot by the army. “I quickly rushed to the scene and I could only seen my son stone dead. He was shot at the back of his head. He died on the spot. The Army people that shot the bullet did not care, they quickly moved on.” An eyewitness who simply gave her name as chika said that the boy was hit by the bullet of the army officers who had shot indiscriminately apparently in a bid to scare the traders away. She said that several others were wounded including an old man and a youth leader she gave his name as Leonard Ebubeagu.

Ongoing Demolition at Eke-Ukwu Market Owerri

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A trader who refused to disclose his name said that goods worth billions of naira were destroyed When our correspondent visited the scene the ever busy Douglas road leading to the market was barricaded by security men. Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone, the Army public Relations officer, 34 artillery brigade, Haruna Tarwai, denied any shooting nor killing by his men. The army spokesperson said that his men were only deployed to ensure that those demolishing the market were protected, insisting that there was no single shooting by the soldiers.

Somtochukwu being taken to the mortuary