An Owerri-based rights activist, Chizoba Iheka, has called on relevant authorities to probe the murder of a businessman, Noel Chigbu.

Mr Iheka, a lawyer, made the call during an interactive session with journalists in Owerri on Tuesday.

He alleged that the Nigerian Army murdered Mr Chigbu in an “extrajudicial” manner.

He challenged army authorities to identify and prosecute the team of soldiers that perpetrated the act to forestall a similar incident in the future.

The deceased, who hailed from Umuocham in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo, was killed on April 30 at Akwa-Akuma in Owerri.

The activist described Mr Chigbu’s killing, who left a pregnant wife and two underaged children behind, as unfortunate.

“The soldiers said he disobeyed traffic rules and shot from the back of his car. But there was a bloodstain on the leather seat of his new Toyota Camry car, yet, no bullet pierced through the backseat.

“It is not embedded in the Constitution of the country that security operatives should shoot at traffic law offenders or even kill them.

“I, therefore, condemn this extrajudicial, absurd, insensible, and inhuman act. I understand that our security operatives are there to protect us, but this must be done lawfully so that the aim of their operations does not get defeated,” Mr Iheka explained.

Meanwhile, Lt. Babatunde Zubairu, the spokesman for 34 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army at Obinze, near Owerri, confirmed the incident.

Mr Zubairu said: “It happened, and I have spoken on it repeatedly.

“A petition has been written by the family members of the deceased and copied 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, and the Army Headquarters.”

He urged journalists to be objective in their reportage of the incident.

(NAN)