ALLEGED KILLING OF AWKA NORTH YOUTH BY SASA OPERATIVES SPARKS PROTEST IN ANAMBRA

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

A young man identified as Chinyeaka Ike from Amaeze village ,Mgbakwu in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra state has been allegedly killed by the operatives of Anambra State, Special Anti Touting Squad State, SASA.

The incident which took place around eight o’clock in the night on Thursday sparked protest from youths in the community who carried the Corpse to the State Government House Awka to registered their grievances about the killing.

Radio Nigeria Correspondent Uche Ndeke reports that the deceased was the only son of the parents .

The youths in their hundreds matched with green leaves and placards bearing their grievances from Mgbakwu to Anambra State Government House in Awka,a distance of about four kilometres.

They also carried along with them the remains of the deceased.

Some of the placards read: Governor Soludo help us, we don’t want SASA again. Governor Soludo disband SASA now, among other writeups.

The twenty six year old deceased is said to have married last year and the wife is expecting to have their first baby next month.

Spokesperson of the youths, Mr Arinze Nwoye claimed that the operatives of the State Anti Touting Squad stormed the community at about eight o’clock in the evening and started apprehending youths going about their lawful duties.

Mr Nwoye said it was in the process that the deceased Chinyeaka Ike alongside another youth sighted them and tried to run but was allegedly shot by the operatives on the laps and back before they used pestle and knife to kill him.
” we want the Governor to be aware and let him tell us what to do because it is too much. This innocent soul that just died is a promising youth that is hard working,what have we done to SASA and other agencies. We don’t want to take laws into our hands thats why we are to complain to the Governor, we voted for him both in first and second tenure, we don’t want SASA again in Mgbakwu community “

Another youth, Mr ……. alleged that in 2025 operatives of the state security outfit, Agunechemba also killed one Mrs Ifeoma Ekwunife in one of their operations in the community.

  " this is becoming too much, everytime they will be coming to carry our youths for nothing, what is our offence, Udogachi will come, SASA will come , SPACS will come, all the youths will be running and hiding all the time"   

The youths appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to conduct a critical investigation into the operations of the state security and task force outfits and save the people especially youths from extra judicial killings.

Addressing the protesters, the Chief of Staff to Governor Soloudo,Chief Ben Nwankwor said that the government had contacted the Nigeria police and the Department of State Security Services to carryout thorough investigation into the matter to ascertain what really happened.

He expressed the state government’s sympathy over the death of the young man and cautioned the people against taking laws into their hands.

The Chief of Staff gave the assurance that the government would address other issues raised by the youths

 " this is a sad incident,  the Governor is not happy with this development. He is a peaceful leader that does not support or wish his citizens anything like this,  he has directed that the Police and DSS commence immediate investigation to unravel what transpired. "   

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Security , Mr Ken Emeakayi while describing the killing as unfortunate, said Governor Soludo has directed that five persons be selected from the protesters for immediate discussion and meeting with the government to know how to resolve the issue considering the condition of the wife of the decease who is expecting a baby next month and aged mother.