The dust is yet to settle over the gruesome murder of a contractor in the state as confusion has continued to trail the saga.
The property owners managed by the slain contractor, Mr Ikwuemzie Charles Chukwuemeka, has accused security forces, particularly soldiers attached to 32 filed Artillery Brigade Obinze for unlawfully snuffing life out of the latter. In a letter to the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, Owerri by Njemanze and Njemanze Notary public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and made available to Imo Trumpeta, they alleged that Ikwumezie charles Chukwuemeka “was murdered in cold blood by soldiers from 32 Field Artillery Brigade Obinze, as well as his co – worker Ugochukwu Iheme who was shot at the neck. Iheme is now at the intensive unit at Federal Medical Centre Owerri”.
The letter signed by Ezeohiri Fred Njemanze (Esq), solicitor to Obinga John Igwe, stated as follows” that last week or thereabout, the government of Imo State warned landlords who owned properties behind of Maria Assumpta Cathedral and environ to ensure that the batchers were removed and all those criminals and traders trading and consuming illicit drugs were ejected or face forfeiture of the properties. He continued “Consequent upon this directive by the Owerri Capital Development Authority our client’s son applied for fencing permit of his property which was granted.
The letter continued “the deceased was his contractor engaged in the fencing of the premises. Ugochukwu Iheme is the co – worker and both of them have been on the job for at least five months.
“That on 14th September, 2012, the deceased and his workers were on site when some of the miscreants and traders on illicit drugs left the area they stay to sell and buy and came into the premises to do their business. The deceased tried to stop them and asked them to leave the premises. One of these traders left and brought in soldiers and on arrival pointed at the deceased as the person disturbing them. (Read full details on page 10).
