Soludo security aides killed our son – Family alleges, as angry youths tear campaign posters
From NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Bereaved family of the late Arinze Okonkwo, a 21-year old auto mechanical engineer, who was shot dead by a stray bullet allegedly fired by policemen attached to Professor Chukwuma Soludo’s convoy in Ogidi, Idemili North Council Area of Anambra State, Monday evening, has accused Soludo’s security group of killing their son.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in their family compound, Nkwelle village, Ogidi, Arinze’s father, Mr. Chukwunonso Okonkwo, said although he was not present at the scene of the incident, he was reliably informed that the bullet that felled his son was fired by Soludo’s security men when their convoy arrived St. Philip’s Anglican Church field, Ogidi, for their campaign programme.


The bereaved father also alleged that he was reliably told that trouble started when Soludo’s convoy arrived the venue for the campaign and saw a bus belonging to Dr. Chris Ngige Campaign Organization passing through the road and was heading towards Awka when one of the mobile policemen attached to Soludo’s convoy fired at the bus and punctured one of its tyres.


He alleged that when the tyre was punctured, the occupants of the vehicle alighted and demanded that the policeman must pay for the tyre and one of the politicians loyal to Soludo volunteered and paid them N5,000 to replace the tyre.

He said while the occupants of the bus were about to zoom off, the policeman, unknown to him that he was standing at the edge of a newly constructed road side drainage, staggered and fell into the drainage, became aggrieved and started shooting sporadically.


He said as he was shooting, other policemen from Soludo group joined in the shooting spree which led to one of the stray bullets hitting Arinze who was returning from a funeral ceremony with some empty crates of beer and he died instantly, while other passersby fled the scene.


He expressed surprise that even after Soludo himself had expressed sympathy over the incident and had pledged to carter for the funeral rites, his campaign group quickly issued a press statement which was published on Tuesday morning that they were attacked by political opponents.


He said even as the body of his late son is currently lying at Iyi-Enu Hospital Mortuary, Ogidi, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Philemon Leha, had just invited him to come over to the State Police Headquarters for an interview on the issue.


Meanwhile, angry youths went on rampage that same night and even the next morning, tearing all the campaign posters bearing Soludo’s name within Ogidi axis into shreds and setting some of them on fire.

Efforts to get in touch with Ngige to hear his own side of the story proved abortive as his phone rang several times without response.


However, Soludo group had accused members of Action Congress (AC) and Ngige campaign group of armed confrontation during the campaign which resulted in a cross fire that claimed life.

The group also accused the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of throwing stones at their convoy in Agulu, Anaocha Council Area of the state, home town of Governor Peter Obi, in one of their campaign outings there.

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jan/14/502.html

Who will save us from this disaster called PDP with their pawn in the person of Soludo? Dear Lord, please we need a miracle.

This is what happens when you sign a pact with the devil - outcome it attracts evils

Sad story. may His soul rest in peace

The annoying aspect is that after Soludo had apologised, the PDP turned to blame it on opposition party. They were even warning that they will do something about it. Anambra is not safe with PDP.

may the soul of the poor boy rest in perfect peace and i pray that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear the lost.
on the other hand, anambra ppl must learn to live with such stories now and in the future as this is part of the prize they have to pay to have a dubai in their state.
when professors are out to fix things, they do it with all tools and equipments to permit a professonal end.
we must understand that every gift from the devil comes with price tags which most times are hidden.
the same blood thirsty cabal in charge of nigeria are on rampage to take over anambra state to give them the same modern developments that they have offered nigerians hence the death of one boy cannot be a problem to that effect.