SOLDIERS KILL 10 YEAR OLD BOY IN IMO MARKET DEMOLITION.

There was pandemonium in Owerri , the Imo State capital , on Saturday, when a 10-year -old boy, Somtochukwu Ibeanusi, was allegedly shot dead by military men from the 34 Artillery Brigade .
The soldiers were deployed to maintain law and order during the forceful demolition of the Owerri Main Market, popularly known as Eke - Ukwu Owerri , by the state government .
Many others were hospitalised owing to injuries sustained when the soldiers allegedly open fire as youths protested against the demolition of the market.
The father of the deceased , Isaiah Ibeanusi , said the military men shot his son at the back of his head and that he died instantly .
Ibeanusi, who addressed journalists , said the tragic incident occurred while he was trying to remove his goods during the demolition exercise , which was supervised by the army , police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Air Force.
He said , “ While I was trying to remove my goods from the shop, I was alerted that my son had been shot by the Army.
“ I quickly rushed to the scene but my son was already dead . He was shot in the back of his head . The soldiers that shot the bullet did not care , they quickly moved on . ”
An eyewitness identified only as Chika , who claimed to have witnessed the shootings, said several others , including an old man and a youth leader , Leonard Ebubeagu , were injured during the raid while many goods were destroyed .
President General of the Owerri Community Assembly , Felix Ngoka , faulted Governor Rochas Okorocha for approving the demolition of the market because of a subsisting injunction restraining him from carrying out the exercise .
When our correspondents visited the scene on Saturday , the road leading to the market was barricaded by security men.
A journalist , Chinonso Alozie , was attacked by the security officials and his gadgets seized .
The Army Public Relations Officer, 34 Artillery Brigade , Haruna Tarwai , denied the allegation , claiming that his men neither killed nor manhandled anybody .
Tarwai said his men were only deployed in the scene to protect officers demolishing the market.