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From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
A member of Anambra State Vigilante Group (ASVG) has allegedly killed only son mistakenly in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It was gathered that the man was mistakenly shot dead by one of the vigilante members who came to arrest a notorious criminal know as China at the compound when the incident happened at early hours of today.
Sources said the man whose wife was just delivered of a baby was preparing to go see his wife and new baby in the hospital, when he was shot, after a suspect pursued by security agents ran into his compound.
However, the killing of the only son of the father sparked off protests in the town as youths of Ogidi community took to the road with the corpse heading to to the local government headquarters after which they would go to Igwe’s palace.
But, the intervention of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Alex Onyido saved the situation who immediately moved to the scene and addressed the youths and calmed them down and directed them to carry the corpse to the morgue.
A source said: “There is serious trouble at Ogidi now. An innocent man was shot dead by vigilante man this morning.
“Ogidi youths have blocked the entrance of the local government with the corpse insisting they must see the chairman.
“Security operatives blocked the gate immediately, stopping every body from accessing the local government premises. Even the staff working there were barred from entering except someone already inside comes to identify them. The whole road is blocked.”
The source said: “The security men were looking for a cultist who ran into the dead man’s compound.
“We heard the vigilante group are claiming they thought it was the guy they were chasing. The dead man didn’t even know someone ran into his compound. He just came out to ease himself and join his family for prayer before going to see the wife who put to bed early this morning. He had not even seen his new born child. He is himself an only son too.”
While confirming the incident, the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Onyido said that it was mistaken killing and not intentional or targeted at the man.
“The father of the man said that the man came out to urinate when the bullet caught him and he fell down and died instantly. I had to move to the scene to address the youth who had mobilized for protest with the corpse.
“So, I had to appealed to them to stop further protest since it was mistaken killing and directed them to go straight to the morgue to deposit the corpse.
“The State Vigilante group came at the early hours of today to arrest a notorious criminal known as China who ran into the place but unknown to the vigilante man he thought the deceased was the criminal and shot at him. The vigilante man who shot and killed the man has been arrested and detained in police” Igwe Onyido stated.
