Security dispatched to ensure that the demolition of the Ekeukwu market in Owerri, Imo State last weekend was smoothly executed, went too far by killing a 10-year-old boy, Somtochukwu Ibeanusi, in the process.
The Imo State Government issued an evacuation notice to traders in order to develop a highbrow property on the location and thus ordered for the demolition of the market.
The boy was allegedly shot while helping to evacuate goods from his father’s shop. The army, police, the State Security Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps participated in the exercise.
The incident precipitated wide range commendation with the Imo State Police Command, however, pledging proper investigation following the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department.
The Peoples Democratic Party, in a statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Dayo Adeyeye, condemned the forceful nature which the security deployed to vacate the traders.
Meanwhile, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Mr Charles Mbalisi, has petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the demolition of market.
In copy of the petition made available to newsmen in Abuja, Mbalisi also petitioned the NHRC on the alleged killing of Ibeanusi in the process.
The governor of Imo, Mr Rochas Okorocha and nine others were named in the petition.
