A Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Petrochemical Engineering graduate, Precious Chiedozie James, was brutally murdered in the wee hours of Wednesday, February 5, 2025 in his hometown, Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government of Abia State.
Information available to Newsportal has it that the fresh University graduate, who was preparing for the mandatory National Youth Service Scheme, NYSC, had accompanied his elder brother, Chief Enyeribe James, the Ukwa East/Ukwa West LGA Head of Operations, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Taskforce on Anti-Bunkering, on a night patrol, was gruesomely killed very close to his family house at about 2:15am that Wednesday.
According to an eyewitness who was one of the occupants of the vehicle, when the patrol vehicle which the victim was driving approached the gate to their family house at Umuakata, Owaza, hooded gunmen numbering about eight emerged from the nearby brushes, barking orders for them to stop while shooting heavily on the patrol vehicle, ostensibly targeting the driver. Following the heavy shooting, they suspected the gunmen to be kidnappers and drove off in attempt to run to the police station at Obehie not knowing that the hired killers, who were more than 15 in number and heavily armed had positioned themselves at different locations.
The eyewitness said that while the first set of assailants pursued them, and shot at the vehicle from the rear, the group in front opened fire on them, raining bullets on the driver, Precious Chiedozie James. According to the account, the killers shattered and demobilized the Tundra SUV truck that was used for the night patrol, and went in hot pursuit of Chief Enyeribe James and another occupant that managed to escape through a nearby bush. The killers only retreated because their gunshots had woken up the villagers, who started coming out.
When the victim struggled with bullet wounds out of the car and fell on the ground, the eyewitness said, the killers shot him on the chest and ensured he was dead.
Newsportal learnt that the bullet-riddled body of the young graduate laid on the ground till about 9.35am on Wednesday when officers from the Obehie Divisional Police Station came and evacuated the corpse.
The family of late Precious Chiedozie James has cried out for justice for their son, who was murdered in cold blood.
