- By Agency Report.
The Osigwe family, in Amaigbo, Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, is seeking for justice for their 35 years old son, father and husband, Mr. Ebere Osigwe, who was allegedly murdered by soldiers of the Nigerian Army in Aba.
According to the sister to the deceased, Chiwendu Benedict Osigwe said her brother was killed in the morning of Friday, 23, October 2020.
According to her narration, the incident took place at Osigwe Lane, off Ngwa road Aba while on his way to charge his phone during the curfew hours imposed by Abia State Government as a way of curtailing the escalation of violence in the city.
“Osigwe Ebere Emelo was my brother. He was 35 years before they killed him. He does loading jobs, offload goods for importers. He resides at No 17B Ndiuche Street by Ngwa road.
“On that day, he left to charge his phone close to our family house at Ngwa road by Mosque. He has charged his phone and was returning. There’s a street very opposite Diamond Bank at Ngwa road which was named after our surname.
“It’s called Osigwe Lane. It was inside that lane that two soldiers met him. There people saw how he was asked what he came to do there was he told them he came to charge his phone there. And he lifted his hands up. He told them he was going to his house.
“They shot him on his lap and watched him die. The people who witnessed what happened saw what happened and there was no vehicle.
“They used wheelbarrow to take him to nearby Hospital where he was confirmed dead. He was not protesting.
“I’m not happy about what’s happened to my brother. The burden is too much on me taking care of his five children. I want justice because my brother did nothing to them,” she said.
The wife of the deceased, Mrs. Onyinyechi Ebere said the killing of her husband hurts her badly as her children are too young to even understand what is happening.
“I have been suffering. I still have a baby of five months old with me. I used to be a tailor and my husband was planning to open a shop for me by next year. I have five children. One boy, four girls.
“We recently packed into our new home. He said he wanted to go out to see if there’s anywhere people put on Generator so that he can put on his phone to know what’s really happening.
“He said he is coming back fast. I gave my children breakfast and I was waiting for him to return.
“I used my neigbours phone to call him, but nobody was answering. I became worried because whenever I call my husband, if he missed my call he’ll call me immediately to know why I called.
“So, I went outside to wait for him. I went outside to the area he told me he’s going to charge phone. I saw children and people gathered, I inquired what was happening, they said that someone was just shot there.
“I became afraid because the children doesn’t know me. I asked they described the man who was shot. I noticed my husband was involved. The government should investigate and get to the root of people who killed my husband,” she said.
