Angry youths protest alleged killing of entertainer by police

There was outrage in Enugu State on Thursday when several angry youths protested alleged extrajudicial killing of a popular entertainer, Izuchukwu Nnaji, in the state.

The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions alleged Mr Nnaji, otherwise known as ‘Stone,’ was killed by operatives of the Anti-Cult Tactical Squad in the state.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the late Nnaji was arrested around 3 a.m. on Wednesday at The Bull Hotel in Enugu where he had lodged after celebrating his birthday with friends on Tuesday night.

Some of the youths said Mr Nnaji’s body was later discovered at the morgue of the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, on Thursday, prompting the youths to begin the protest.

Video clips showing the youths protesting have been circulating on Facebook.

In one of the clips, the protesters called for the arrest of the police operatives allegedly involved in the killing of the deceased.

They also demanded an investigation into the killing.

Ogochukwu Nnaji, the elder brother of the deceased, told reporters during the protest that his brother was allegedly arrested and killed without justification.

“My brother celebrated his birthday on Tuesday and thereafter lodged at The Bull Hotel.

“Operatives of the police anti-cult squad invaded his hotel room around 3 a.m. on Wednesday and whisked him away.

“When we could not find him, we went to the hotel, where the management confirmed that operatives of the anti-cult unit came in the night and took him away. We later traced his body to the ESUT Parklane morgue today (Thursday),” he narrated.

Mr Ogochukwu insisted that the deceased was “extrajudicially killed” and that he was neither a cultist nor an armed robber.

“He was a well-known celebrity. We are demanding justice,” he said.

The protesters later marched to the Government House in Enugu, calling for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the killing of the deceased.

Police silent

The police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, did not respond to multiple calls and a text message seeking his comments on Friday morning.

Not the first time

The latest incident occurred about 24 months after a police inspector killed a popular musician, Chikezie Mba, in Enugu State.

Mr Mba, popularly known as ‘Igbo Jah,’ was shot dead by the inspector at the Anti-Cult Unit of the Enugu State Police Command in October 2024.

The police authorities later identified the inspector as Joseph Ozonwanji, dismissed and arraigned him for killing the musician.