The Centre for Social Awareness, Advocacy and Ethics (CSAAE) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for allegedly shooting and killing a 15-month-old child in the presence of his parents. According to Mr. Cosmas Nwokedi, the father of the late child, his son, Dominion Chisom Nwokedi was killed around 2pm on April 17th, 2023, at Fire Service Junction, Owerri, by a bullet from members of the NSCDC.
Narrating the incident to CSAAE Pro Bono Lawyers (CSAAE Advocates) and the Founder of CSAAE, Rev. Fr. Dr. Godswill Agbagwa, Mr. Nwokedi noted that he saw armed members of NSCDC drive through the junction in their Hilux – even though the traffic light was red – and heard a gunshot from them. The bullet landed on the head of his 15-month-old child being carried by his wife. Mr. Cosmas said that he immediately ran after the Hilux carrying the armed NSCDC members as he was sure that the bullet that killed his son came from them, but the vehicle zoomed off. Cosmas said that he immediately took pictures of the van with his cell phone and turned back to take his child to the hospital, but the child was confirmed dead on arrival at FMC, Owerri.
Mr. Cosmas and his wife said that they immediately took their deceased child to the Imo State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense office to report the matter. Rather than hear them out and sympathize with them, the NSCDC personnel harassed Mr. Cosmas, snatched his phone from him and deleted the pictures of the NSCDC Hilux and its members that shot and killed his son. Mr. Cosmas and his wife eventually met with the PRO of the Command, who promised to investigate the matter.
As of Tuesday, April 26th when CSAAE Advocates filed a lawsuit against the NSCDC on behalf of Mr. Cosmas and his wife, nothing has yet been done about the matter by the NSCDC. Instead, the NSCDC made a publication denying involvement in the tragic incident.
Pained by the sad story of Mr. Cosmas and his wife, CSAAE Founder, Fr. Godswill Agbagwa, ordered CSAAE’s legal team comprising of fifteen human rights lawyers drawn from the five South Eastern States in Nigeria to investigate the matter and ensure that justice is done. The legal team led by Victor Onweremadu (Esq.) determined that the death of 15-month-old Dominion Chisom Nwokedi was possibly a homicide and has written to the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, to investigate the matter while suing the NSCDC at the Federal High Court, Owerri.
CSAAE is an international nonprofit organization with head office in Owerri. Besides its efforts towards youth and women empowerment; quality primary education and health care delivery; entrepreneurship and sustainable environment; professional, business and leadership ethics; the Centre also promotes human rights, rule of law, anticorruption, and good governance in the Southeast, across Nigeria and Africa. Last year, the Centre worked with youths and members of the security agents to reduce police brutality in the Southeast. The project ended with the release of 35 youths held unjustly in Abia Correction Centres. This year alone, the Centre has provided Pro Bono Legal Services to several women that have been abused by their husbands. The Centre has a toll-free line (0800-900-1000) that the public can call to report abuse of human rights and rule of law as well as bad governance and corruption. The CSAAE Pro Bono Lawyers, also known as, CSAAE Advocates (C-Advocates) are happy to investigate any case reported to the Centre. To learn more about CSAAE, please visit www.csaaeinc.org. For enquiries, please email: info@csaaeinc.org. Tel: +2347046007185. Follow us on social media @csaae.
