Izu Joseph, the 3SC footballer, who was shot by Joint Military Task Force (JTF) operatives in Bayelsa on Sunday died near a cultists’ shrine, The Nigerians Army has said.
Commander, 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Brig. Gen. Hamisu Hassan, said this on Tuesday, saying investigation was ongoing to determine what Izu was doing at the shrine.
The central midfielder, who transferred from Bayelsa United to 3SC in 2014, was shot at a close range in Okaki community in the Ahoada West area.
It was also learnt that Izu had pleaded with JTF operatives that he was a footballer before he was shot.
But Hassan explained that the was killed when troops, who were on a “confidence building patrol”, moved into cultists’ hideout in Okaki village, adding that the place was isolated.
Hassan said, “Information available to the patrolling troops indicated the presence of suspected cultists in Okaki village. The troops moved in and raided the suspected criminal hideout. One person lost his life at the hideout while several others fled.
“Later, it was confirmed that the person who lost his life was a Nigerian footballer, identified as Mr. Izu Joseph. Nevertheless, investigation is ongoing to determine what he (Izu) was doing at the cultists’ shrine at that time.”
He added that the Brigade would sustain the current tempo of the operations against cultists, kidnappers and other criminals to make Rivers State safe.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had in his condolence message appealed to footballs “to always be mindful of the company they keep and the places they go at all times because they are special assets.
“At the end of the day, each and every one of us will die, but we don’t want to be losing football players in the manner in which Izu Joseph has died.”
