Ebonyi community mourns killing of youths by soldiers as Palladium Mining Company sue for peace
The impact of the alleged killing of youths by a soldier posted to Palladium Mining Company last Sunday in Ihetutu community of Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State is still raising some questions as to the intent behind the shooting of the victims.
The victims, identified as Chibuike Elema, 18, and Obinna Gideon Akandu, 20, were reportedly shot dead at a location faraway from the Mining site, operated by Palladium Mining Company, also known as Ambertone Logistics Ltd.
From investigation gathered, the suspects were not on duty on the said day of the incident as the Company did not dispatch them to carry out any undercover assignment.
The youths were allegedly shot after they refused to give money to the soldiers for security purposes, according to accounts provided by their families and community leaders.
The women, youths and community leaders of Ihetutu community are demanding a thorough investigation into the ugly incident and an end to what they described as the intimidation and mistreatment of their children by the security operatives.
Narrating the circumstances surrounding his son’s death, Mr Donatus Okoro, father of Chibuike Elema, said the 18-year-old was called from home on Sunday morning to join other workers at the mining site.
According to him, eyewitnesses said the youths were returning from work when soldiers attached to the mining company allegedly stopped them and demanded money.
He alleged that the soldiers opened fire on the youths after they explained that they had no money to give them.
“My son was called from the house this morning to come and join them for Sunday work. While coming back along the road, according to people who witnessed what happened, the soldiers attached to a mining company called Palladium asked them to settle them.
“But they told the soldiers that they were not with anything. The soldiers raised their guns and shot them in the head,” Okoro alleged.
The second victim, Obinna Gideon Akandu, was identified as the son of a serving councillor representing Ihetutu community in Ivo Local Government Area.
He was a second-year student of the Department of Economics at Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki.
Speaking on the loss of his son, Mr Joshua Akandu described the incident as painful and maintained that the deceased was innocent.
He said his son had returned to the community on Friday afternoon after his examinations were postponed and went to the farm on Sunday before he was allegedly shot while returning.
“My son was innocent. He just went to the farm, and while coming back, they shot him on the road,” Akandu said.
Speaking with newsmen, the Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Chief Michael Anyim, said the community had maintained a peaceful relationship with soldiers deployed to the area before the incident.
He, however, expressed concern over the killing of the two youths, describing it as unwarranted and unnecessary
Anyim appealed to the aggrieved youths to refrain from further attacks, burning or destruction of the mining company’s property, assuring that the local government would work with the state government and the Nigerian Army to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
Residents are demanding an impartial investigation by the state government and relevant security authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the shootings and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable.
As the bereaved families mourn their loved ones, the community insists that justice must be served and that urgent measures be taken to prevent a recurrence of the incident.
Meanwhile investigation by Daily Times Newspaper revealed that the affected Company is putting measures in place to cuision the negative impact and implications of the demise of the victims.
The Company, is said to have kick-started a strategic humanitarian process of reaching out to the families of the bereaved and the community as a whole, in order for peace to be restored to the community and ensure that the once ever green relationship between the Mining Company and the affected community is not eroded.
Also, Ebonyi State Government has condemned the killing of two youths allegedly by a soldier attached to the Mining Company.
The State government also announced the sealing of the mining company pending the restoration of peace in the area and the pursuit of justice for the deceased.
Governor Francis Nwifuru, who condemned the incident during a visit to the community, described the killing as tragic and regrettable, urging youths in the area to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding.
Represented by the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Chief Chinedum Nkah, the Governor disclosed that the soldier allegedly involved in the incident had been taken into custody, while a full investigation had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the killings.
In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, the current Commanding Officer of the Nkwagu Military Cantonment (24 Support Engineer Regiment) in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Lieutenant Colonel Ikenna Emmanuel Chielo said: “We were at the scene today, investigation is ongoing, let’s be patient to get the full details”. He added.