A member of the vigilante operatives has allegedly shot a yet-to-be-identified man dead in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

It was gathered that the deceased’s wife just delivered a baby and while he was preparing to go and visit his wife and the newborn in the hospital, a bullet hit him after a suspect pursued by the security agents ran into his compound.

An eyewitness said the vigilante operatives were on the trail of a fleeing cultist, popularly known as “China,” who was also said to be a notorious criminal.

The incident generated a series of protests in the area on Thursday as youths of the community took the corpse to the local government headquarters, demanding to see the LG chairman.

They blocked the entrance to the local government with the corpse insisting they must see the chairman.

A source in the area who spoke to journalists, on the condition of anonymity for fear of harassment, said, “An innocent man was shot dead by SSS this morning. The security operatives were looking for a cultist who ran into the deceased’s compound.

“The man just woke up and they were about to pray, but he excused himself to urinate outside, and the next thing was a gunshot.

We heard the security operatives were claiming they thought it was the man they were chasing that they shot. The dead man didn’t even know someone ran into his compound.

“He just came out to urinate before going back to join his family members for the morning prayers. He had also planned on going to see the wife who put to bed early this morning. He had not even seen his newborn child. He is himself an only son too.”

It was gathered that the protesting youths were barred from gaining entrance into the local government secretariat as soldiers blocked the gate immediately, stopping everybody from entering.

Confirming the incident, the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said law and order had been restored by the police.

“The deputy commissioner of Police in charge of operations led operatives to the Ogidi community, following a protest by the community members alleging a member of the vigilantes shot one of the indigenes in the community.

“Meanwhile, law and order have been restored in the area and the suspect has been arrested with the arm recovered. Further details shall be communicated, please,” Ikenga added.

Youths protest as vigilante shoots man dead in Anambra

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