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On Monday, July 25, 2005, an Igbo man named Peter Eze was brutally gunned down in Lagos by Lt. Felix Odunlami who is a naval officer at NNS Beecroft, Apapa. Late Mr. Eze was a staff of WAHUM Group of Companies in Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria. He was coming home from work and got involved in a road accident and his motor bicycle scratched the car of Naval Officer, Lt. Odunlami. It is alleged that the officer pulled his pistol and killed Mr. Peter Eze in cold blood.
This incident is not an isolated case as it reminds us of the June 8, 2005 killings of Igbo traders by the Nigerian police in Apo village near Abuja. The July 25 killing is not merely a case of road rage as some people may try to label it. It is a calculated act by Nigerian law enforcement personnel to humiliate Igbos in Nigeria.
After over 3 million Biafrans perished in the genocidal pogrom between 1966 and 1970, the perpetrators were never brought to justice. Since then Igbo people have been recklessly murdered by the Nigerian government officials with utter abandon. The senseless killing of Igbos in parts of Nigeria by government agents is reminiscent of the days of lynching in the US and Apartheid days in South Africa. WE ARE YET TO HEAR OF THE ARREST OF LT. FELIX ODUNLAMI AFTER THREE DAYS HAVE PASSED.
Igbo blood can be shed at the least provocation in Nigeria. If Yorubas, Hausas and other nationalities in Nigeria are slaughtered in similar ways that Igbos are murdered by government officials, then we shall know that the killings are not due to Igbophobia. Until other peoples of Nigeria are killed in like manner, we stand on our convinction that these killings are as a result of ethnic cleansing. Something has to be done to put a stop to these acts of barbarism directed towards Igbo citizens by the Nigerian law enforcement agents. Justic delayed, is justice denied!
Make no mistake, there is no justice for Igbos in Nigeria. Even if there is justice done in isolated cases, continually prevailing justice will not come for Igbos for a hundred years, if it comes at all. This people is stereotyped, villified, and de-humanized, actions classic of the methodology of racism, allowing violence and murder against them without remorse.
The answer to these troubles is gaining control(at this point neccessarily in an underground fashion) of all our territory, leaving the enemy to have power in name only. We need to make the enemy want to leave Igboland. If the Italians could do it in a foreign land(New York), Igbos can do it at home.
___________________ The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves... Posts: 660 | From: Valle del Sol | Registered: Nov 2004
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Colleagues of Okada rider killed by Naval officer stage protests
By Evelyn Usman & Mayowa Oyewale Posted to the Web: Wednesday, July 27, 2005
LAGOS—BUSINESS activities in Ikeja, capital of Lagos State were yesterday paralysed following continued protest by commercial motorcyclists popularly called okada over Monday's killing of one of their colleagues by a lieutenant in the Nigerian Navy .
The protest reports said, started at about 7am as the okada riders took to the streets and vented their anger on innocent passers-by and motorists, destroying several vehicles in the process.
Besides, the deceased identified as Peter Eze was yesterday confirmed to be a staff of WAHUM group of companies. He was said to be returning from the office in the company of one of his female relatives when the tragic incident occurred at Oregun junction on Awolowo road.
Police authorities however said yesterday that the Navy officer, identified as Lieutenant Felix Odunlami attached to Beecroft Apapa had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti for further investigation.
There is however a new twist on the incident as Vanguard reliably gathered that the Navy officer claimed upon interrogation that the deceased attempted to rob him, as a result of which he had to shoot him to defend himself.
When contacted, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Adewole Ajakaye told Vanguard that investigations had begun to ascertain the true position of the incident and that it was impossible for the Police to draw conclusion until final investigation is out.
Said he, " we have heard from the side of the motorcyclists and it is necessary for us to hear from the person in question. This is a clear case of murder that needs to be investigated properly before drawing conclusions. Investigation is still going on and all available facts are being gathered and it will be wrong to get to any conclusion now."
Ajakaye who frowned at the actions of the okada riders , describing them as disturbance of public peace, however appealed for calm saying, two wrongs can never make a right.
On whether the suspect would be handed over to the Navy authorities for disciplinary measures, Ajakaye answered in the negative, explaining that since the case was clearly that of alleged murder the Navy would only render any needed assistance when called upon. The suspect he said would be charged to court at the end of the investigation.
On its own part, the Navy authorities have sent some of their officers to ascertain the true identity of the suspect. Vanguard gathered that about four officers were yesterday at SCID, Panti to question the suspect and verify if he was a Naval officer or if he only impersonated a Lieutenant in the Navy.
ing their members to order and avoid causing damage on public property.
Narrating the circumstance that led to the protest, Olubode said, " there was report at Alausa police station on Monday at about 1840 hours that one Lieutenant Felix Odunlami , a Naval officer attache d to NNS Beecroft Apapa who was driving in mercedez Benz 190 car with registration number AR 374 SMK shot at point blank and killed one Peter Eze , a staff of WAHUM Group of Companies along Oba Akran Ikeja. This resulted from a dispute that arose after a minor accident involving the motorcyclist and Naval officer at Oregun junction. The shooting of the company staff sparked off spontaneous riots which disrupted the evening traffic and affected hundreds of commuters who were on their way home from work.
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Two months after killing of Okada man by Naval officer, Igbo youths insist: We want justice now or else....
By Evelyn Usman Posted to the Web: Saturday, August 27, 2005
Remember the late Peter Ede whose life was cut in its prime by a bullet from a Naval officer on Monday, July 25, 2005 at Oregun junction on Awolowo Road, Ikeja, capital of Lagos state? Since the tragic incident which dealt a heavy blow on the family of the deceased, father of the deceased, Mr Joseph Ede is yet to get out of the shock as he is still wearing a pale look and finds it difficult to carry on with the day’s activities as a result of the death of his first son and bread winner of the family.
Reactions from different quarters have since begun to trail the killing of the 23-year old man who never bargained for the fate that later befell him as he left WAHUM Group of Companies where he was a factory hand at about 4pm that fateful Monday. The late Peter who was also a part-time student of Business Administration at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo , mounted his motorcycle which he also used for commercial purpose inorder to meet up with the responsibilities of taking care of his aged father and two siblings , without the slightest premonition of death. And as he drove past the gate, he bade what eventually turned out to be the final farewell to his other factory colleagues, as barely had he reached radio bus-stop on Awolowo road, where he reportedly hit a mercedez benz which turned out to be that of a Naval officer from behind .The enraged officer who came out of his car was said to have shot Peter, amidst plea, to dead.
The incident provoked instant chaos that affected all parts of Ikeja as other motorcyclists descended on the naval officer, burnt his vehicle and were at the verge of setting him ablaze when some policemen came to his rescue.
Saturday Vanguard gathered that the reactions from different quarters are as a result of perceived long silence from the concerned authority to bring the naval officer, identified as Lieutenant Felix Odulami and attached to Beecroft Apapa, to book.
However, in a swift reaction, Navy authorities said they had begun a court marshal in respect of the incident to ascertain if the alleged shooting was done intentionally or in self- defense as the Lieutenant was said to have stated initially that he shot in defense when the deceased attempted to rob him.
But for the Igbo youths who are presently not satisfied with what they described as a show of disregard for defenseless civilians , as they Accused the Navy authority of trying to defend their own and not putting into consideration the effect of the evil handiwork on the deceased family. They have, however, threatened thunder and brimstone if justice was not done by waging war against the Navy command in the eastern part of the country.
The congress with other motorcyclists, last week Thursday, staged a match protest to Government House, Alausa and thereafter proceeded to the Lagos State Police Command to state their grievances and warned of an impending danger if nothing was being done to bring the naval officer to book.
According to the National president of the congress, Comrade Bright Eze Ocha during a telephone interview with Saturday Vanguard: " Last Thursday, we staged a rally from Charlie Boy’s house to governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s office, Alausa and thereafter went to the Lagos state command but did not see the commissioner. We learnt that the Police have released the suspect to the Navy and that the Navy have begun a court marshal. But we must state categorically that we are not satisfied with the way they are going about it. We doubt the sincerity of the court marshaling. How can they be investigating such thing that involves human life and will not call on the girl that was with the deceased on the fateful day? They will at the end of the day come up with their judgement after hearing only from their man. This is not fair, this is injustice!" exclaimed comrade Ocha.
He continued, "Take for example, the investigation into the Apo six killing that is going on in Abuja. It is being done openly. This is how a matter that involves human life ought to be treated. It should not be done in the secret". This shows the level of disregard for human life by those that are supposed to protect innocent and defenseless civilians. This is also a shame not only to the Navy but also to the country and government that has no value for human life.
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