Army says footballer, Izu Joseph was killed in a cultist den

The Nigerian Army in Rivers state says Shooting Stars defender, Izu Joseph was killed in a raid which took place in a cultist den in Okaki village, Ahoada West local government area of the state on Sunday October 16th.
Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, the Commander, 2 Brigade Nigeria Army, Brig. Gen. Hamisu Hassan, says it was after the raid at the cultist hideout that they discovered that the person who was killed during the raid was the footballer.
“On Sunday October 16th, troops in Ahoada local government area in Rivers state, conducted a confidence building patrol. Information reaching the troop 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 the others fled.
Later it was confirmed that the person who lost his life was a Nigerian footballer identified as Izu Joseph. Neverthless, investigation is ongoing to determine why and what he was doing at the cultist shrine at that time”he said

Meanwhile Joseph’s Father, Reuben Izu, has refuted claims that his son was killed in a cultist den.
In a video posted online, the distraught father said Joseph who was in the state on holiday, had gone to Okaki community to visit his wife. He went to the jetty in the village to swim when the soldiers stormed the area and started shooting. He said one of the bullets hit Joseph on the leg and as he was groaning in pain, one of the soldiers walked up to him and shot him at close range despite pleas to the officer that he was a footballer on holiday.