Pandemonium as policemen shoot soldier in Ebonyi, youths go on reprisals

Angry youths of Owutu Edda community in Afikpo South local government area of Ebonyi state went around the vandalizing buildings and burning properties belonging to policemen who shot a soldier, Ikechukwu Nnachi, on Monday, March 6, 2017.

Nigerian policemen are constantly accused of excessive use of force.

The Sun reports that properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in the incident before the state government could douse the tension.

The youths were said to have been provoked after the policemen, under the ‘Operation Safer Highway’, at checkpoint along Nguzu Edda road, stopped a woman wearing a military cap on a motorcycle.

The report quoted a witness as saying the woman introduced herself as the wife of a soldier, but that this angered the policemen. She was then ordered to call husband before the cap could be released.

The woman’s husband was said to have arrived the scene and the tension resulted into physical combat and one of the police officers shot the soldier on the leg.

The youths of the community were said to have immediately mobilized and went after homes and properties belonging to the policemen.

The senior special assistant to Governor David Umahi on Internal Security, Dr Kenneth Ugballa, later appealed to the youths and promised that the government would investigate the issue.

The victim is said to be receiving treatment at a military hospital in Ohafia area of the state.