Fear gripped Onitsha people on Friday, following the killing of a 27-year-old man at the River Niger bridgehead in the commercial town of Anambra State.

A soldier at a checkpoint around the bridgehead had attempted to shoot in air but the bullet hit the boy, who died immediately.

A witness who does not want to be named said the soldiers were pursuing and smashing mirrors of commercial vehicles who were plying one-way to cross the bridge when the incident happened.

“As the soldiers were trying to stop the motorists from plying one way, they were running to escape, one of the soldiers pulled his gun and shot in the air, but the bullet hit one of the revenue collectors who was across the road and killed him instantly.

“The killing of the boy almost caused a problem as many traders and other passersby mobilised to attack the soldiers, but they called for reinforcement from the barrack and they brought more soldiers and armoured personnel carrier to the scene.

“The prompt intervention of a senior Army officer, a major and Onitsha Police Area Commander saved the situation and the soldier was whisked away,” the source said.

Report says the corpse of the boy has been deposited at the morgue.

Security operatives were consequently mobilized to the bridgehead to avoid escalation of violence or protest.

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