The 22-year-old man allegedly shot dead by a police officer in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was the son of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Princewill Obodo.
Anthony Eruchi Obodo, a fresh graduate who was reportedly awaiting his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) call-up letter, was killed on Thursday, August 27, during a controversial encounter with policemen around the Agip/Ada-George axis of the city.
The tragedy has continued to generate outrage, with the Rivers State Police Command detaining the officer allegedly involved and members of his team at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) pending the outcome of an investigation.
Amid the growing controversy, Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Chidi Lloyd, on Saturday visited the bereaved family at their Agip Estate residence in Port Harcourt.
Lloyd was at the residence of Princewill Obodo, the Rivers-East Senatorial Vice Chairman of the APC, to sympathise with the family over the death of Anthony.
The council chairman condemned the killing, describing the death of the young man as tragic and a major loss to his family, community and the people of Rundele Ward 7 in Emohua LGA.
He expressed confidence that the Rivers State Police Command would unravel the circumstances surrounding the shooting and ensure that anyone found culpable is dealt with according to the law.
Anthony’s father, however, gave a different account of what happened.
Princewill alleged that his son was driving alone along the AGIP Road in Rumueme when a team of policemen attached to the AGIP Estate Police Station pursued his vehicle.
According to him, one of the officers allegedly fired at the vehicle, hitting its tyre before another shot struck Anthony.
The impact, he said, caused the vehicle to lose control, leave the road and hit pedestrians along the busy AGIP section of Ada-George Road.
Anthony was allegedly rushed for medical attention but died from his injuries.
His father said the deceased was not a criminal and questioned why a young graduate who was simply driving his vehicle should have been shot.
He called for a thorough and impartial investigation, insisting that those responsible for his son’s death must be made to face the law.
The police, however, have given a preliminary account that differs from the family’s version.
According to the command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, preliminary information indicated that an altercation between Anthony and a police officer degenerated into a scuffle, during which a firearm was discharged.
The bullet killed Anthony, while two other passers-by were injured.
The command identified the alleged shooter as Corporal Alfred Louis and said he was subsequently attacked and injured by an angry mob.
Louis and members of his team were transferred to the SCID, where they are being investigated and are expected to face appropriate disciplinary action if found culpable.
The police command has also condemned the shooting, saying the conduct of the officers involved did not reflect the level of professionalism expected of the Nigeria Police Force.
The incident sparked protests around the area, as angry residents and youths demanded justice for the slain graduate.
For the Obodo family, however, the investigation is now a race for justice for a young man whose life, according to his grieving father, was cut short just as he was preparing to begin his national service.
