AWKA — MR. Linus Anyaene, the father of Mr. Chidozie Anyaene, who has been missing since April 19, 2014 when he was allegedly shot while he was in masquerade attire by soldiers, lamented, yesterday, that the traditional ruler of Oko, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, said to have invited the soldiers, has not asked after the victim.

Pa Anyaene has also petitioned the Chief of Army Staff and copied to President Goodluck Jonathan, the senate and the House of Representatives, crying for help and demanding justice.

In an emotion Bladen speech yesterday at Oko, Pa Anyaene said he was becoming more confused each passing day as he does not know what has happened to his son.

He told Vanguard: “When this incident happened, I called Igwe Laz Ekwueme on phone. When he picked the call, I asked if he knew the whereabout of my son who was shot by soldiers. He hung up on me and since then, he has neither returned the call, nor sent anybody to find out what happened.”

According to Anyaene, who works in the security department of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, “I had expected our monarch to show some concern because we belong to the same kindred and whenever a misfortune happens to somebody, his other relations usually go to sympathize with the person.

“Since my son got missing, none of our Umunna (kindred) had come here to ask us what happened, which suggests to me that there was something more to it than meets the eye,” he said.

He said that his ordeal worsened when he went to the police at Oko to make a statement and was asked to go to Ufuma Police Station, regretting that one of the policemen told him bluntly that he should bring N100,000 before making entry as the police would use the money to look for his son.

Anyaene stated that if he waited for sometime without reply, he would send reminders because he does not have the capacity to fight constituted authorities.

Meanwhile, part of the letter Anyaene addressed to the COAS and made available to Vanguard read: “My, son, Chidozie Anyaeme of Umuezeokweghe ward, Ezioko village, Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra, was a victim of Army shooting at Oko on 19/04/2014.”

On that fateful day, my son Chidozie Anyaeme went out with his peers for our community=s, Oko annual festival known as AUfu Olu@.

AChidozie was behind a masquerade and/or in masquerade attire when he was shot down by soldiers who were illegally brought into Oko community for just no cause.

AEye witness account narrated how the said Chidozie was shot in Oko village square where Oko Masquerades were performing on that 10th day of April, 2014 and that said square is where Oko masquerade have been performing from time immemorial.

AMoreover, I have gone round in search of my son whether dead or alive, but to no avail. I have never seen this kind of impunity and lawlessness where soldiers are used to kill innocent citizen by his fellow citizen and a civilian for that matter.

ASir, I urge you to use your good offices to release my son to me as I am now helpless and dying. And I pray that the perpetrators of the dastardly act be brought to book.