PARENT OF A VICTIM ALLEGEDLY HIT BY STRAY BULLET AT EKE UKWU MARKET DEMOLITION IN OWERRI CALLS FOR SUPPORT

A middle-aged woman, Mrs. Chinyere Osuji whose twenty-one year old son, Ifeanyi was allegedly hit by stray bullet during last Saturday’s demolition of shops in Eke Ukwu market,Owerri by the Imo State Government has appealed to good spirited Nigerians to come to her aid.

Speaking to newsmen at the Intensive Care Unit of the Federal Medical Centre,Owerri, where her son is presently admitted, Mrs. Osuji who hailed from Dikenafai in Ideato South Local Government area of the State said the bullet struck her son at a shop located in a nearby street where he went to buy some personal needs.

Mrs. Osuji explained that her son had undergone surgery to correct injuries sustained in his waist and bladder but noted that the family lacked the resources to continue with the treatment.

Also, a relative of one of the victims, Mr. Eddy Ejiogu who spoke to newsmen at the Male Surgical Ward of the hospital, frowned at what he described as an abuse of firearms and called on relevant authorities to ensure justice was done.

Efforts to get the reaction of the medical personnel attending to the victims yielded no result as they were unwilling to talk to journalists.

Imo State Government has repeatedly issued statements denying any loss of life or record of injury during the demolition exercise.

Meanwhile, Imo State Police Command says it has commenced investigation in to the death of one Master Somtochukwu Ibeanusi who was allegedly shot during the crisis arising from the relocation of Eke Ukwu Market, Owerri last Saturday when youths of the area attempted to resist the move.

In a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer Mr. Andrew Enwerem, the force stated its resolve to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death.

He assured the people of adequate security of lives and property.

The ten year old Somtochukwu Ibeanusi who hailed from Nnewi in Anambra State was allegedly killed by a stray bullet by a yet to be identified person while trying to remove wares from his mother’s shop along Douglas Road Owerri,while many others sustained injuries at different locations within the area during the crisis.

CHINAZO ILECHUKWU