Mr. Joseph Izu, the 3SC footballer, who was shot on Sunday by the Joint Military Task Force operatives (read here), was killed near a cultists’ shrine.

The Commander, 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Brig. Gen. Hamisu Hassan, said investigation was still ongoing to determine what Izu was doing at the shrine, Punch reports. Izu, who was a central midfielder with 3SC, was on Sunday, shot at a close range in Okaki community in the Ahoada West area.

It was also learnt that Izu had pleaded with JTF operatives that he was a footballer before he was shot.

But Hassan explained that Izu was killed when troops, who were on a "confidence building patrol", moved into cultists’ hideout in Okaki village, adding that the place he (footballer) was found was isolated.

Hassan said,

"Information available to the patrolling troops indicated the presence of suspected cultists in Okaki village. The troops moved in and raided the suspected criminal hideout. One person lost his life at the hideout while several others fled.

"Later, it was confirmed that the person who lost his life was a Nigerian footballer, identified as Mr. Izu Joseph. Nevertheless, investigation is ongoing to determine what he (Izu) was doing at the cultist’s shrine at that time.”

He added that the Brigade would continue to monitor the operations against cultists, kidnappers and other criminals to make Rivers State safe.

http://www.uchesdiaries.com/2016/10/shot-shooting-star-defender-was-killed.html

But Hassan explained that Izu was killed when troops, who were on a "confidence building patrol", moved into cultists’ hideout in Okaki village, adding that the place he (footballer) was found was isolated.

Any justification for killing an unarmed person?

E be like say dem wan change d story.
There is God oooo!

It will not be well with those that killed him: The man who made this statement is a coward: killing an unarmed civillian?

So the penalty for being a cultist is execution style killing. So soldiers now have rights to shoot and kill cultists ? May whoever kill be killed in a violent way.

So he was found near shrine, then the next thing is to shoot at sight. Nigerian military smh

Op are u okay at all ... Which kind silly news be this... Trying to cover up the actual story will not go well for u. The way these military kill civilians at will these days is becoming alarming.

That was how a military man stabbed & killed my friend's elder brother, also in Port Harcourt.

It won't be well for those who are trying to cover up the story.

who saw him plead that he was a footballer before been shot ?