Mrs Ijeoma Unachukwu, 32, wife of a Germany-based Nigerian, Oguchi Unachukwu, who was, on May 31, allegedly shot dead by Air Force personnel in Owerri narrates how her husband was killed:
“We were on our way to the airport on that fateful day to see my husband off to the airport because he had a flight from Owerri to Lagos before he would travel to Germany same day.
“He had already spent two months with us here in Nigeria. So, he was returning (to Germany) before the incident happened.
“As we were going to the airport, we got to the first military checkpoint and the soldiers told us to stop. We did. He came down and went there to identify himself, telling them he was going to the airport and that he had a flight to catch. They told him to give them something (money), which he did and we continued our journey…
“Just as we were reaching the airport toll gate, we met another set of Air Force personnel that told us to stop and my husband stopped. Immediately he stopped, they opened fire on him. That was how they shot my husband in the head.
“There was no disagreement or confrontation. In fact, I am still in shock because I did not expect it. They brought their Hilux van and took him to their hospital on Aba Road in Owerri. As of that time, he was still breathing. They told us to take him to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, and that was where he died
“It was a clear case of murder. They intentionally killed my husband. There was no provocation, no need to fire. We didn’t pose any threat. He was with his family and we never looked like bandits. Our marriage lasted just three years.
“They killed him, making a young woman like me a widow, and my two-year-old-son and four-month-old daughter fatherless.
“I want justice. This is like a dream to me.”
(Excerpts from The PUNCH)
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