A soldier has allegedly shot dead a 45-year-old trader in Assa community, in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
The trader, identified only as Chinedu, was shot at Afor Assa Market, which was immediately deserted as traders ran for safety.
Trouble reportedly started when some youths intercepted a truck loaded with locally-refined crude oil that was allegedly being accompanied to an unknown location by soldiers on a special duty in the community.
The truck was allegedly waylaid by community youths who demanded that the owners of the consignment give them money before they continued the trip.
This was resisted by the soldiers who went ahead to shoot in the air to scare away the restless youths.
A stray bullet was said to have hit the victim and he died on the spot.
The soldiers reportedly took to their heels leaving the truck behind.
The truck was burnt by the irate youths.
