The elder brother of the Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan defender, Izu Joseph, who was killed on Sunday, reportedly by a stray bullet from a member of the Joint Task Force, JTF, has refuted claims by the Nigerian Army that his brother was a cultist.
The brother, Reuben Izu, said the claim by the military that his younger brother was found near a shrine was a lie.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Army made the revelation on Tuesday that Joseph was killed in a cultist’s shrine, hence, would investigate what he was doing at the cultist’s shrine at that time.
But Reuben, in a chat with the Punch, explained that the shrine in Okaki was a traditional shrine, maintaining that the community had no issue of cult clashes.
He said, “The claim by the military is a lie. It is sad that my innocent brother was shot and the military authorities decided to cover it up.
“I think the army should locate the actual persons responsible for the killing instead of covering up for its men.
“Joseph brought out his identity card, but they still killed him. Is that how to treat even a criminal?
“There is no cultists’ shrine in Okaki; the only shrine there is a traditional shrine and it is far from where my brother was killed.
“The Rivers State Government is yet to contact my family since the incident occurred,” Reuben said, calling on the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to intervene in the matter and ensure that Izu’s family got justice.