The Easter celebration turned bloody in Orlu, Imo State on Sunday, April 17, 2022 as Nigerian Army troops engaged some suspected bandits in a shoot-out.
The development shattered the peace of the town as residents scampered for safety.
1st News reports that civilian casualties were recorded as some hapless residents were caught in the crossfire. Video evidence sourced from the micro-blogging site, Twitter and posted by residents showed a scene of carnage, with several footages showing shot residents lying in pools of their blood.
Equally important, the incident has remained one of the trending topics on Twitter with #OrluIsBleeding
One of the casualties was identified as Roco Nnadiekwe. Nnadiekwe, a musician and 2007 graduate of Political Science from Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, who goes by the stage name Ja Rule was shot dead on Sunday.
The deceased was said to have returned to his hometown from Port Harcourt, Rivers state, last week. Correspondingly, he was supposed to shoot a video of his latest song in Owerri on Monday before his death. Also, a popular musician in the state, Obinna Okoro, known as Acharaman, who is a friend of the 38-year-old entertainer, confirmed the incident to a PUNCH correspondent.
ALSO READ: Uzodinma: Imo Gov explains reason for military operations in Orlu
“Roco {Ja rule} is my brother and friend since our university days. His dreams was to be successful in life through his music. After our graduation, Roco went to Port Harcourt in search of his family’s betterment.
“He returned to music three years ago and later we recorded a song which he featured me in his 1st single called “ONYE NA WAY YA”.
“Last week Roco returned home from Porth Harcourt and said he was going to shoot the video of that our song by tomorrow being Monday. This afternoon the Nigerian Army killed my homie Roco in his home town Orlu. Roco believes in Nigeria so much and today Nigeria has failed my friend. It’s hard to believe this.”
Meanwhile, 1st News has also obtained other footages from the scene of the Army operation in Orlu, Imo State; including the harassment of an elderly resident by troops who shot in the air to scare him inside.
#OrluGenocide. This is how Easter went today 17/04/22 in Orlu. The Nigerian soldiers came to the streets in Amaifeke in Orlu & started shooting innocent people down without provocation.
This genocide has been going on for over 1yr. People have deserted their homes.#Thread. pic.twitter.com/eLY96m1C2S
— I H I E C H I U K W U 🌅 (@IHECHI__E) April 17, 2022
This is the pain we go through everyday in my community orlu/Orsu the Nigeria army are making it easy for our young boys now the age bracket is from 14 to 45😭😭 @vanguardngrnews #orluisbleeding I keep crying in every space they should do something about this. pic.twitter.com/nohacyGUIp
— talker (@doratalker) April 17, 2022
Nigerian army are harassing and killing innocent people in Orlu Imo state for sport…@hrw @UNHumanRights @Imamofpeace @AmnestyNigeria @amnesty @UNWatch #OrluIsBleeding#OrluIsBleeding#EndNigeriaNowToSaveLives #FreeMaziNnamdiKanuNow pic.twitter.com/83BMqPWDnn
— Paradise Oforma (@OformaParadise) April 17, 2022
