Following a viral video that made the rounds on Tuesday about an innocent young girl shot dead by operatives of the Agunechemba in Nnewi, citizens have cried out to the Anambra State Government to put an end to the incessant killings by calling the operatives to order.
The video showed the young lady lying in a pool of her blood after having been allegedly shot by the operatives as onlookers rioted in anger.
The incident happened on Tuesday evening along the popular and ever-busy Ibeto Junction at Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the State.
Road users were said to have been trapped by the usual traffic gridlock that occurs along the Ibeto Junction axis every morning and evening. They patiently followed the traffic and waited for it to clear.
It was gathered that the operatives, who were equally trapped by the gridlock, started shooting to disperse traffic when the bullet hit the innocent woman at a dangerous spot, and she slumped and died.
The video showed the operatives dragging the woman to a nearby Keke to take her to the hospital.
Some of the people who witnessed the incident, while speaking with our correspondent, regretted that at least over 13 innocent lives have been lost due to the recklessness of the Agunechemba operatives, wondering why the state government is yet to address the recurring issue.
The Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, has also confirmed the incident and further affirmed that the victim is dead.
He, however, assured that the command had already initiated quick steps and actions to identify the patrol vehicles and the identities of the Operation Udo Ga-Achị team that went to the said area on the said date and time.
“Yes, the Command is aware of it. And we have escalated it to the leadership of the Agụnechemba for them to help us to identify the patrol vehicles that went to Nnewi yesterday, for possible identification of the alleged operative that actually shot the gun,” he said.
The full identity of the victim, simply known as Chiamaka, has yet to be determined as of the filing of this report.
According to a social critic, Hon Raymond Chukwunachi, the situation is becoming unbearable, and urgent steps are needed to address it.
Chukwunachi believes that if the authorities begin to make scapegoats of those caught in the act, others will be forced to turn a new leaf.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government has clarified that it created Operation Udo Ga Achi and its Agunechemba Security Outfit arm to secure lives and not to kill or harass law-abiding citizens.
The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Community Security, Chief Ken Emekayi, made this disclosure in response to the recent public outcry by citizens over the activities of Agunechemba operatives, which have led to the death of many innocent people.
Emeakayi said the state government intends to use the security outfit to ensure the safety of the Anambra people’s lives and property.
The Governor’s aide appealed to the people to always report the excesses of the Agunechemba operatives so that the government could take decisive action against them.
