One killed as stay-at-home protest cripples cities in Southeast Nigeria

A stay-at-home protest by Biafran separatists in Nigeria crippled cities and towns in the south-east on Wednesday, May 30th.

Streets were empty and markets, banks and schools were closed to mark the abortive attempt in 1967 to gain independence for the region. It led to a bitter three-year civil war in which more than one million people were killed.

The authorities had earlier warned the secessionists against street protests and security forces were on patrol.

However, soldiers allegedly shot and killed a young man in Aba, Abia State.

Soldiers were pictured dragging the lifeless body of the young man after he was shot.

It was gathered that soldiers had approached from Asa Road to Port Harcourt Road/Uratta Junction where some group of young men had reportedly gathered in the morning as part of the sit-at-home protest.

According to reports, as the soldiers got close to the junction, they started shooting indiscriminately which forced them to leave the vicinity.

As the soldiers continued shooting, a stray bullet, according to report, hit a young man, identified as Nnamdi Ikemeh from Mbano in Imo State and a resident of Chigbu Street, off Uratta Junction who was said to have come out from his house to buy something.

Immediately he was shot dead, the soldiers were reported to have dragged his corpse into their patrol van parked at a nearby street and sped off, preventing Nnamdi’s younger brother from carrying his dead body.

IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is currently facing treason-related charges.

He has not been seen in public since last September when his house was raided by the Nigerian military. The army denies arresting him and his whereabouts are unknown.

Culled from BBC, Newstelegraph