BREAKING: Soldiers allegedly kill businessman in his car at Owerri checkpoint

Some military personnel have allegedly shot a businessman identified as Noel Chigbu in his car at Owerri, Imo State.

Moreso, the elder brother of the victim, Tobechi Chigbu, who spoke with Punch, said the military men at the Amakohia flyover in Owerri killed Noel around 10 pm on Friday.

Recall that a few days ago, five soldiers allegedly killed a 100-level student of the Imo State University, Divine Nwaneri, in front of the state Government House.

The elder brother of the victim while addressing newsmen disclosed that his brother was killed on the day he took delivery of his new Camry car and was driving home at the close of work.

Furthermore, he stated that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations in the state was the one who informed the family that the soldiers said that they shot him because he violated their checkpoint rule.

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“Noel was one of my young brothers. He would have been 39 on May 18, but unfortunately, he was shot dead on the day he took delivery of his new vehicle. His corpse was dumped at the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri by the soldiers, who killed him.

“Noel was the owner of Shawarma Zone in front of the Home Away Palace by Ukaigwe Hospital, Akwakuma junction, Owerri. He just dropped off his friend, who also does the same business with him in front of the Amakohia Market. It was around 10 pm on Friday, April 30. His friend, whom he dropped off, said it was not up to three minutes after he alighted from the vehicle when he heard gunshots in the destination Noel drove to. He didn’t know that it was his friend, who was shot by the soldiers.

“His (Noel’s) whereabouts became unknown as he didn’t return home that night. His wife became worried and started calling us. The number was ringing and nobody was picking it until about 5.30 in the evening of the following day. One person picked it and said that he was a policeman in the control room at the state police command headquarters in Owerri and asked us to come.

“At first, we felt he had a problem with someone without knowing that the military men had killed him and dumped his corpse in a morgue at the FMC, Owerri. On reaching the police command headquarters, my brother identified his new car and when we approached the car, we found out that the back windscreen was shot. All four tyres were deflated. We also saw blood on the driver’s seat. Chika Chigbu, my younger brother, immediately sensed danger.

“The front windscreen and all the window glasses were intact. Only the back screen was shattered by gunshots.”