There are conflicting reports as to the circumstances surrounding the death of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) central defender, Izu Joseph, who died of gunshot on Sunday in Rivers State.
Tribunesport learnt that the defender who is survived by his wife and an eight-year-old daughter, Stephene, was hit by stray bullet during a raid on his Okaki village in Ahoada West Local Government area of Rivers State by uniformed men.
Another account claims that Izu was shot dead while he was at Okaki Jetty with friends to have his bath at about 10.00 a.m. His body was also reportedly thrown into the river.
However, the father of the deceased, Mr Izu Reuben Martins has said his late son was shot twice at the riverside on Sunday morning leading to his death.
He alleged that members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) stopped sympathisers from helping the late player when people around were trying to save him.
“I will say he was shot deliberately because there was no need for shooting since there was no fight. My son had gone to take bath at Okaki Jetty at about 10.00 a.m when he was accosted. He told his interrogators that he was a staff of Shooting Stars Sports Club upon showing them his identity card. He also told them he was not a thug. But, they [interrogators] took his wallet and phone and pushed him into the river,” Izu’s father told Tribunesport by phone on Monday.
“When he was rescued from the river and taken to a nearby hospital, the doctor rejected him, saying he won’t survive because he had lost so much blood. He gave up the ghost in the course of taking him to another hospital. This is very sad and we have reported the case to the police headquarters in our local government area and even to the chairman of the local government for proper briefing and I hope justice will be done,” the bereaved Martins added.
The sexagenarian further described the late player as the breadwinner of his family.
“It is so sad that we have lost him at just 31, he had been feeding us and his family – the wife and a daughter – now how do we cope? We are missing him already. Now the responsibility lies on us. He was such a good fellow who did not engage in any suspicious activities but how to make it big in his career, now his ambition has been cut short.
“I pray for justice and leave the rest to God. My son never fought them,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the General Manager of 3SC, Mr Rasheed Balogun, while commiserating with the family of the deceased, described Izu as a disciplined and focused player who always worked for results.
He said that 3SC would miss the defender, adding that his death is a loss to Nigerian football.
