𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹: 𝗔 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
On a tragic Monday afternoon, 13-year-old Paul Odikanwa was shot while attempting to retrieve a football from a neighbor’s compound in Owerri, Imo State. The young man, a Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS 1) student at Urban Development Secondary School, later succumbed to his injuries. His devastated father, Jonathan Odikanwa, has shared the harrowing details of this incident, which has left a family in mourning and a community in shock.
This is an outrageous and indefensible act that must not go unpunished. The alleged shooter, a landlord in the neighborhood, reportedly denied firing a gun but was contradicted by multiple eyewitnesses who confirmed he shot at Paul and later fired sporadically into the air. This was not an accident; it was an unjustifiable act of violence.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
Nigeria's legal system is clear on matters of unlawful killing. Under Section 319 of the 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁 (𝗖𝗮𝗽 𝗖𝟯𝟴, 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮, 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟰), any person who unlawfully kills another with intent or reckless disregard for life is guilty of murder. If investigations confirm that Paul was shot intentionally, the suspect must be charged accordingly.
Furthermore, 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟯(𝟭) 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 (𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱) guarantees the right to life, stating that "no one shall be deprived of his life intentionally, save in execution of a court sentence." The shooting of a defenseless teenager over a mere football retrieval is a blatant violation of this fundamental right.
Additionally, the 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁 (𝗖𝗮𝗽 𝗙𝟮𝟴, 𝗟𝗙𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟰) restricts the use and possession of firearms by private individuals. If the alleged shooter was in possession of an unlicensed firearm, further legal action should be taken against him.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵
Paul’s case is yet another example of how children and young people are often at the receiving end of excessive and unnecessary force. Whether by security personnel, vigilantes, or private individuals, this culture of resorting to violence rather than peaceful conflict resolution must stop.
We must ask ourselves: 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒂 65-𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓-𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒐𝒚 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍?* What does this say about our society, where disputes escalate so easily into deadly confrontations? If Paul had been a rich man’s son, would his life have been taken so recklessly?
𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲
The police and judiciary have a duty to ensure that justice prevails. This must not be another case where the rich and influential manipulate the system to evade punishment. The people of Imo State, and indeed all Nigerians, must demand transparency in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
Justice for Paul is justice for all. If we allow this to slide, we send a dangerous message that young lives are disposable.
𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
1. Prosecution of the Suspect: The Imo State Police Command must ensure that the suspect faces the full weight of the law.
2. Stricter Gun Control: Authorities must enforce firearm regulations to prevent private individuals from unlawfully possessing and using deadly weapons.
3. Community Sensitization on Dispute Resolution: Schools and communities must educate people on peaceful conflict resolution to prevent unnecessary violence.
4. Social Justice Advocacy: Human rights organizations must take up this case to ensure it gets the attention it deserves.
Paul Odikanwa had dreams. He was a young football lover who was trying to get an education, despite starting late. His life mattered. We must all raise our voices until justice is served.
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