The police command in Abia State has confirmed Wednesday’s alleged killing of an "okada operator" at Umuokereke Ngwa community.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, that relatives of the deceased, known as Chimaobi Nwogu, reported the incident at the Eastern Ngwa Police Division.
The deceased Mr Nwogu was allegedly shot to death by a Solider for allegedly refusing to give N100 bribe at a military checkpoint at Ohanze in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia.
According to the PRO "the army had denied responsibility. The army said it is not their soldier that killed Chimaobi, that it may be a cultist who was wearing an army T-shirt".
Furthermore, he said that the command had commenced investigation into the incident but that no arrest had yet been made.
"A team has been set up to look into that matter and it is after the investigation that the perpetrator of that act will be unraveled."
Ogbonna said that the police intercepted the youths of the community bearing the corpse during their protest shortly after the killing, adding that police collected and deposited the remains in a morgue.
An eyewitness account said that the deceased was shot dead because he refused to give N100 to somebody allegedly stationed to collect tips on behalf of the men at the checkpoint.
The eyewitness said on the condition of anonymity that the suspect, who was on a military uniform, immediately took a motorcycle and went after the deceased.
It was further learnt that the suspect allegedly trailed Chimaobi to his village in Umuokereke Ngwa, where he reportedly shot him on the road to his father’s compound.
A relation of the deceased, Chinonyerem Nwala, narrated how the deceased was killed.
He said: "We saw a soldier pursuing Chimaobi but we were still wondering what may have happened when he shot him and he fell on the ground from his motorcycle. Immediately after shooting him, the soldier climbed on his motorcycle and ran away."
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