Reuben Izu, the elder brother to the late footballer Joseph Izu, who was killed by operatives of the Joint Military Task Force, wants everyone to know that his brother was not a cultist and had nothing to do with cultism.
He said, “I happen to come across somebody from my village, who actually saw what happened. It is so sad that my innocent brother was shot.
“The claims that my brother was shot near cultists’ shrine is not true. Their (Army) claims do not tally. Why did they not look for a way to locate the actual person they are looking for and arrest him?
“Why would they (JTF) allow themselves to get to a point where they shot an innocent person? The guy (Joseph Izu) brought out his ID card and his wallet and they still shot him. Is that how to treat even a criminal?
“There is no shrine in Okaki; the only shrine there is a traditional shrine and it is far from where my brother was shot and killed.”
He expressed regret that the Army and the Rivers State Government had yet to contact the family of the deceased since the incident occurred.
Reuben specifically called on the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to intervene in the matter and ensure that Izu’s family got justice.
He said, “The state up till this moment has not contacted the family; neither the commissioner of police nor the governor has actually delegated anybody to come on his behalf to sympathise with the family. We require the government to actually come to our aid to help us seek justice.”
