SARS Operatives Kill Poly Student At Traditional Wedding

*A file photo of SARS operatives
Men of the Special Anti-robbery Squad Enugu, have allegedly killed a 27-year-old student, Mr. Nnabuike Nnaji, of the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu. Nnabuike was said to be studying Purchasing and Supply (HND I) before his death.

The incident occurred late last Saturday night, at Ibeagwa-Nike community in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. It was uncovered on Monday that the late Nnabuike was killed during a traditional wedding ceremony.

The shooting allegedly took place seconds after an indigene of the community, Ndubuisi Ugwu, led a team of SARS police officers to the venue of the traditional wedding ceremony. It was said to be an offshoot of a communal crisis on Ibeagwa-Nike since 2008.


An eyewitness craving anonymity said, “Immediately Ugwu pointed out the deceased to the SARS team, they shot at him instantly, on the left side of the stomach.”

The remote cause of the crisis, residents disclosed, had to do with the booming sale of land in the community.

When newsmen visited the community on Monday, soldiers were seen at strategic positions and manning several points within the area. Many of the youths had allegedly fled.

At the home of the deceased sympathisers were gathered, condoling with the parents, Elder Patrick and Cecilia Nnaji.  Recalling the incident, Patrick said that they had all gone for the traditional wedding of a member of their community on Saturday.

He added that he returned to his house later in the evening but at about 8pm, he heard spontaneous gunshots.

He said, “The gunshots sounded like it was coming from a war front. At that point, I realised my son hadn’t returned home.

“Sunday, his friend, called Nnabuike’s phone thrice but he didn’t answer the calls. At about 10pm, somebody answered the call and told us Nnabuike was hit by bullets and that they were in a hospital.

“I was told that after the SARS operatives had shot him, the military men stationed in Ibeagwa, retaliated. Ugwu, who  led the policemen to the scene, disappeared. The matter was later reported to the police by the Umuanekeode clan.”

Ugwu, who spoke to our correspondent on telephone, admitted that he had brought the SARS operatives but denied pointing at Nnabuike, but at an entire group that he allegedly had problems with previously.

He said, “It was as a result of mob attack on the policemen by Nnabuike’s group that made the police shoot him.”

Spokespersons for 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu, Col. Hamza Gambo, said no police officer from the scene of the incident was in the army’s custody.

Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu State, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, also said that no police officer was being detained by the military.

Amaraizu said investigation  was  being conducted by men of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Enugu to unravel the circumstances behind the incident. He said, “We would certainly speak to the press as soon as we are done with our findings.”