By MATTHIAS NWOGU, ABA
Calm has returned to the strategic Opobo junction of Aba in Abia state after two days protests by irate youths following the killing of a motorcyclist by a soldier for allegedly refusing to give him a N100 bribe at a check point.
This is coming on the heels of the announcement by the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu that the trigger-happy soldier has been arrested.
Ikpeazu condemned in strongest terms, the killing of the innocent unarmed civilian, whom he said the soldiers were deployed to protect.
The governor, who paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased, also directed the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ene Okon to step up investigations to unravel why a soldier attached to the Ohanze military checkpoint shot and killed 30 year old commercial motorcyclist, Chimaobi Nwaorgu, who hailed from Umuokereke Ngwa, Obingwa LGA.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the bereaved family at Obingwa, the governor disclosed that the army personnel who shot the victim has been apprehended and detained.
He wondered why the soldier would pursue and shoot the victim point blank from the back more than 25 kilometers from the military checkpoint at Ohanze, adding that government will not rest until it gets to the root of the matter.
He appealed to the youths of the area to remain calm and cease from further show of anger that may lead to breakdown of law and order.
The Point gathered that trouble started for the motorcyclist on Wednesday afternoon when he allegedly offered the soldier N50 as against the ‘usual N100 bribe’ at the Ohanze Army check point and drove off.
It was gathered that unknown to him, the infuriated soldier, who felt shortchanged allegedly ordered another motorcyclist to give the deceased a hot chase as he eventually caught up with him at his Umuokereke Ngwa village and shot him from behind.
The youths of the village, who were incensed by the murder of one of their own, carried the corpse to a local radio station Ogbor Hill, as they could not confront the armed soldier.
At the Ogbor Hill, they staged a protest before moving to the Opobo road junction displaying the corpse which drew the sympathy of other youths.
According to one of the youths, the deceased was rushing home after a distress call from the wife to take one of their two children to hospital for immediate treatment for an undisclosed illness.
