A final-year Fine and Applied Arts student from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University was shot and killed by private security guards on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at Senator Stella Oduah’s Estate in Akili-Ozizor, Anambra State.
The victim, Noel Chinedu Okechukwu, was a student at COOU in Igbariam, Anambra State.
According to a petition from his father, Rex Peters Okechukwu, a veteran journalist and former Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Anambra State, Noel was going to the estate to buy fish from a pond located inside.
The petition, sent to the Divisional Police Officer at Ogbaru Police Division, describes what happened. Rex Peters Okechukwu reported that when Noel reached the estate gate, the security guards refused him entry.
An argument broke out, and one of the guards fired a pump-action rifle, hitting Noel.
The petition claims that after shooting Noel, the guards gave him water, but he died shortly after drinking it.
A motorcyclist was then sent to inform the family in Ochuche, another community in Ogbaru Local Government Area.
Rex Peters Okechukwu has demanded justice, stating that the guards had no right to kill his son.
He argues that even if Noel had done something wrong, the guards should have arrested him and handed him over to the police rather than taking the law into their own hands.
The DPO at Atani, Mr. Andrew, responded to the news, saying that the deceased was reported to be part of a group looting and vandalizing properties in the estate. “The report I have is that the deceased was among those looting and vandalizing properties in the estate,” Mr. Andrew said. “When confronted, they opened fire on the security guards, and the guards returned fire, which led to his being gunned down.”
The DPO also questioned why the father only reported the killing on August 23, six days after the incident. He added that the case file would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Awkuzu for a thorough investigation.
The community and family are calling for a full investigation into the incident and accountability for those responsible for the shooting.
