Youths Protest Killing of Man by Vigilante Operative in Anambra

Thousands of youths in Mgbakwu community, in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, have staged a protest over the killing of a young man identified only as Akidi.

The man was reportedly shot dead on Thursday by an operative of Udogachi, a state-owned vigilante security outfit. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.

Some residents said Akidi was standing by the roadside with his wife when a firearm allegedly discharged from a nearby operative, striking him. He was said to have died instantly.

On Friday, large numbers of youths took to the streets in protest, describing the incident as “one death too many”. Protesters blocked the entrance to a major market in the community before proceeding in a motorcade of motorcycles towards Awka, the state capital, located more than 10 kilometres away.

Many carried fresh leaves and chanted songs as they called on the state government to take action and rein in the activities of the security outfit.

In a video circulating online, one of the protest leaders said: “We cannot accept this. We have been killed enough and this must stop.”

Residents also referenced a similar incident about a year ago, when another युवक from the community was allegedly killed by a stray bullet linked to the same vigilante group.

It was not immediately clear whether the protesters were received by government officials upon arrival in Awka.

As of the time of reporting, the Udogachi security outfit had not issued an official statement on the incident.

Source: Daily Post Nigeria