Family Protests Over Death of Student Shot by Anambra Vigilantes
Tensions have surged in Akili-Ozizor, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State, following the shooting death of Noel Okechukwu, a final-year Fine and Applied Arts student at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University. The 27-year-old was killed by local vigilantes on August 17 under controversial circumstances.
According to reports, Okechukwu was shot by vigilante members while en route to buy fish from a pond within Senator Stella Oduah’s Estate. The victim’s family alleges that the security guards killed him without justification, while the vigilantes contend that Okechukwu was involved in property looting and vandalism.
In a formal complaint to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Ogbaru Police Division, Okechukwu’s father, Rex Okechukwu, described how an argument with the guards led to them shooting his son. The father claims that after being shot, Okechukwu was given water by the guards before dying, and that a motorcyclist was sent to notify the family of the incident.
Rex Okechukwu is calling for justice, arguing that even if his son had committed a crime, he should have been arrested and handed over to the police rather than executed.
In response, DPO I. Andrew confirmed receiving the petition but noted that initial reports indicate the deceased was among individuals accused of looting and vandalizing the estate. The DPO also expressed doubts about the petitioner’s claims and announced that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Annex in Awkuzu for further investigation.
