One Killed, Nine Injured by Bakassi Boys Over Settlement Fee in Aba

A group identified as Bakasi Boys have allegedly killed one injuring nine at a hard drug spot in Aba, Abia State, over non-payment of ‘settlement fee.’
The Unidentified Bakassi boys members are said to have allegedly killed a middle- aged man,leaving nine others with various degrees of injuries, Vanguard reports.

It was gathered that the incident, which took place at  Ngwa Road end of Aba River bank, popularly known as ‘Orji Uzor Kalu Bridge’ where hard drug peddlers and users relocated after men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, ejected them from their former base on the notorious York Street a few years ago, caused tension in the area as traders hurriedly shut their shops.

Narrating the incident to Vanguard, an eyewitness who gave his name simply as Chikwe, said they were relaxing inside an open shed at noon when six Bakassi Boys arrived the area in a Hilux van. He said:

“Immediately the Bakassi Boys alighted from their van, they made straight to the open shed where most of them were sleeping and demanded for their daily ‘settlement fee’ of N1,000 which the hard drug dealers operating in the area pay them.’’

He added that when the Bakassi Boys were told there was no money, they got infuriated and one of them used the side of his machete to beat up one of the young men inside the shed. Chikwe said as the Bakassi Boys beat up the young man for daring to tell them there was no money, another, whose name he gave simply as Sunny Pounds from Imo State, asked them to stop beating the young man because he was sick.

 The Bakassi Boys were said to have pounced on Sunny Pounds for challenging their authority and shot him dead. It was also gathered that after shooting dead Sunny Pounds, the Bakassi Boys jumped into their van and fled.

Angered by this action, some of the people in the area were reported to have carried Sunny Pounds’ corpse in protest to one of the offices of the Bakassi Boys located within the Amamong area of the city.
On sighting the surging crowd, members of the vigilante outfit at the office allegedly opened fire, wounding nine of the protesters who succeeded in dumping the corpse of their friend in front of the Bakassi Boys’ office.

When Vanguard visited the hard drug spot, it was discovered that three Hilux vans fully loaded with armed Bakassi Boys were seen leaving the area and on inquiry, they were said to have attempted bringing back the corpse of Sunny Pounds.

It was, however, gathered that on sighting the numerous friends and colleagues of the deceased, they hurriedly turn back with the corpse to avoid confrontation. When contacted, spokesman of  Abia State police command, Ezekiel Onyeke, said he was not aware of the incident, saying it was yet to be reported to the police.

Vanguard