A 35-year-old mother of two was reportedly shot dead on Saturday at the Yenizue-Gene suburb of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State by an alleged ‘drunk’ naval operative.
The victim, a food vendor, was identified as Mrs Chioma Precious Okwuadigbo.
According to eyewitnesses, the mother of two
met her untimely death in the early hours of the day some distance away from a
popular Club along Baybridge road in the heart of the state capital where she
was plying her trade.
Though it could not be independently confirmed, a source told
Vanguard that the deceased was engaged in a heated argument with some uniformed
men suspected to be naval operatives when one of them believed to be drunk
fired a shot.
The bullet was said to have hit the woman, killing her on the
spot before any assistance could be rendered. A security source said though
some persons at the scene of the crime were invited by the police for
interrogation, no arrest had been made. She, however, added that the matter is
expected to be transferred to the State CID today (Monday). Meanwhile, the
state chapter of the Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has
condemned what it described as “the gruesome murder of Mrs, Precious Chioma
Okwuadigbo while doing her legitimate business by alleged officers of the
Nigerian Navy.”
NAWOJ in a statement signed by Mrs Maria Olodi-Osumah and
Grace Koinyan, chairperson and secretary respectively said: It is disheartening
that Chioma Okwuadigbo at thirty-five years and in her prime, life was snuffed
out of her by security operatives who ought to protect her as a Nigerian. “The
pain and sorrow caused by the death of Mrs Okwuadigbo cannot be quantified as
she left behind two children who still require the nurturing and love of a
mother.
Despite the fact that the incident had been reported to the police, no arrests have been made…Chioma’s death should not be swept away. “We are therefore calling on the Nigeria Police to as a matter of urgency swing into action by arresting the officers involved, carry out a thorough investigation and ensure that the culprits are brought to book. That is the only way justice will be seen to be served.”
