Boy, 12, Shot Dead by Agụnechemba Officer in Onitsha; Residents Demand Justice

A 12-year-old boy was allegedly shot and killed by a member of the Agụnechemba security outfit—also known as Operation Udo Ga-Achị—on Thursday in Onitsha, Anambra State. The incident happened near Biafra Market on Ifejike Street, Onitsha South Local Government Area, and has triggered protests and public anger.

According to eyewitnesses, the boy was sitting quietly near a drainage channel, reportedly on his way to use a public toilet, when an officer from the patrol team suddenly opened fire. Witnesses say the child was not involved in any suspicious activity and posed no threat.

After the shooting, the officers attempted to drive away in their van, but residents and traders quickly blocked the road and stopped them. The crowd, which grew rapidly, demanded that the officers not abandon the boy’s body at the scene. Under pressure, the operatives eventually placed the body in their patrol vehicle and left the area.

A video circulating on social media shows two officers lifting the boy’s body into the back of their van, which displayed the operation’s identification number ANSG 0060, along with emergency contact lines. The footage has further fueled public outrage.

A member of a local vigilante group, who gave his name as Nwadibia, said they intervened to ensure the officers took responsibility for what happened. “If we didn’t insist, they might have left the boy’s body and blamed us later,” he said.

Residents described the act as senseless and avoidable. Some said it reflects a disturbing pattern of behavior by the Agụnechemba team, which has been accused of similar killings since it was launched in March.

“There was no reason to shoot him. He was just a boy, sitting quietly. He didn’t run, he didn’t argue. They simply fired at him,” said one resident.

A trader, Magnus Okoli, called the killing “barbaric,” and criticized the officers for trying to flee. “Even if they thought he was suspicious, they should have approached him and asked questions. But they shot first and wanted to escape. That’s not how security is supposed to work,” he said.

As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from the Anambra State government or the Agụnechemba command regarding the incident. The community is demanding a full investigation and justice for the boy.