‘My Son Wanted To Be A Catholic Priest’ – Mother Of 10-year-old Killed During Imo Market Demolition

Though it has been one week since ten-year-old Somtochukwu Ibeanusi was allegedly shot dead by policemen read more......
effecting the forceful demolition of the Owerri Main Market on orders of the Imo State Government, the agony, trauma and tragedy of his death still permeate his family house on Oguamanam Street in the state capital.
The street is close to the main market, popularly known as Eke-Ukwu Owerri, which security agents invaded last week Saturday.
Punch’s correspondent noticed during his visit that the house saw a horde of sympathisers trooping in almost every hour.
But it was clear that the deceased’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Ibeanusi, were still grappling with the reality of the murder of their only son.
The traumatised parents managed to speak to Saturday PUNCH on the destruction that weapons of law enforcement agents had done in their family.
Mr. Ibeanusi, 52, struggled with words. But his wife, Ogechukwu, took it upon herself to extensively speak with our correspondent.
She explained that she put to bed two weeks ago and losing her son shortly after was like her world had crumbled at her feet.
Ogechukwu said, “My husband and I were in one of our shops located in a shopping plaza in the demolition zone, struggling to move some goods inside. We sell phone accessories.
“As the government began the demolition that day, Somtochukwu and his elder sister, Mmesoma, were packing and arranging goods in one of our others shops in the same area affected by the demolition.
“All of a sudden, some people rushed in and called my husband. They spoke in hushed tones and he left with them. At that point, I did not know that my only son had been killed.
“After a while, some people that I know in the neigbhourhood came and asked me to follow them to our house. I refused and told that my husband just left and our goods were still in the demolition zone plaza. They insisted and encouraged me to follow them to the house.
“When we got to our family house, I was told that my son, Somtochukwu, had been shot. The thing sounded to me like a movie because I couldn’t believe it.
“I was led to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, where the news of my son’s death was again broken to me. I demanded to see his corpse and I was taken to where the lifeless body of my son was.”
Ogechukwu said the shock sank in a moment later when she saw the body of her son lying cold on a mortuary slab.