Posted by By Fidelis Soriwei on
The controversy generated by the reported death of an American-based businessman, Mr. Nnaemeka Obiekea, in the hands of security operatives on December 24, assumed a fresh dimension
The controversy generated by the reported death of an American-based businessman, Mr. Nnaemeka Obiekea, in the hands of security operatives on December 24, assumed a fresh dimension as the authorities of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, have denied that he was murdered by soldiers.
The authorities of the brigade stated in a release made available to our correspondent in Owerri on Saturday, and signed by the Army Public Relations Officer, Major Kayode Ogunsanya, on behalf of the Commander, that contrary to reports, the soldiers killed the deceased during a gun battle with three armed robbers.
The position of the Army authorities conflicted with that of the family, whose spokesman, Chief Ken Obiekea, said that the late Nnaemeka was killed by the security operatives along the Port Harcourt Road while returning from the club at the All Season Hotels Limited on the fateful day.
Ken, an elder brother of the deceased who said that his brother came into town on the evening of December 23, with a fleet of four brand new cars including the Toyota Landcruiser jeep in which he was killed, died under suspicious circumstances and called on the authorities concerned to investigate the matter.
But the top leadership of the brigade said in the statement that Obiekea was killed during a gun battle, which also involved two other robbery suspects (now at large), adding that one of the soldiers involved in the operation sustained a gunshot wound on his leg.
He added that contrary to media reports that the soldiers were posted to the house of a retired general, the affected soldiers were alerted of a robbery incidence at the World Bank Housing Estate Junction at a joint military/police road block at Avu junction along Owerri- Port Harcourt road where they intercepted the car.
He called on all members of the public to feel free to testify before a panel of investigation that had been set up to look into the circumstances that led to the death of Obiekea.