Community clarifies trending video of youth killed by military in Anambra

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By Madu Obi

The leadership of Akwaihedi Community in Nnewi South local government area of Anambra State has distanced the community from a trending video claiming that a young man was killed in the bush by men wearing military uniforms.

A voice in the video claimed that those who killed the young man also stripped him (the narrator) naked and threatened to also kill him if he messed up.

According to the narrator, the soldiers also threatened other people namely, Sunday Ojiego, Obinwanne Okafor- and Sunday Albert who, according to him, were going to work.

But the community described the video as misleading and malicious, expressing deep concern over the attempt by certain individuals to distort facts and create a negative impression about Akwaihedi, which it stated, is a peaceful and law-abiding community known for its cooperation with security agencies.

President General (PG) of Akwaihedi Community, Hon. Oliver Mbagwu, said in a statement that "the individual seen in the viral video was not a resident, representative, or a member of the Akwahedi Community, but rather one of the criminal elements earlier apprehended by soldiers operating around Orsumuoghu area who, after being apprehended, deceitfully led the soldiers into Akwaihedi with false promise to lead them to the den of his cohorts".

The PG explained that the suspect was earlier arrested during a security operation targeting criminal hideouts and was being processed when he attempted to escape from custody.

His attempt to flee, the PG added, occurred before he was fully demobilized, which led to the situation captured in the circulating video.

The PG stressed that any attempt to twist the situation and link the suspect’s actions to the community were malicious and unacceptable, emphasizing that Akwahedi Community has always supported legitimate security operations aimed at safeguarding lives and property and has consistently worked with law-enforcement agencies to ensure peace and order in the area.

"The community therefore urges the general public, media practitioners, and social media users to disregard the false narrative being propagated.

"Akwahedi remains committed to promoting truth, transparency, and peaceful coexistence, and will not tolerate attempts to tarnish its reputation through misinformation. Akwaihedi is not occupied by insurgents and there is relative peace in the community.

"The leadership also calls on those spreading false narratives to desist from such acts and warns that, if necessary, the community will take appropriate legal and civic steps to protect its good name", the PGs statement read.