State, has been thrown into deep mourning, following the alleged
gruesome murder of a member of the community, Mr. Onyekaozuru Ezeji.
Vanguard reports that trouble started when Ezeji, a bricklayer, went
on a debt recovery drive to the home of his alleged killer, also a
member of the community.
Although it was not clear at press time how much was owed the deceased
bricklayer, Vanguard, however, gathered that the suspect, said to be
an Indian hemp dealer, threatened to summarily deal with Ezeji if he
did not leave his premises immediately.
"A scuffle ensued midway into their shouting match and the man brought
out a sharp knife and stabbed Ezeji. He started bleeding profusely
from the wound sites" a witness who pleaded anonymity recounted.
The eyewitness said the Indian Hemp dealer quickly invited a
commercial motorcycle operator to assist him move the wounded man to a
nearby hospital.
He also recalled that the victim collapsed and died before getting to
the anticipated hospital, following which the duo dumped the lifeless
body of Mr. Ezeji on the road side and fled.
"Officers and men of Ehime Mbano Police Division quickly rushed to the
place as soon as they got a report about the incident, and moved
Ezeji's remains to an undisclosed hospital morgue," the witness said.
Vanguard also gathered that two persons, including the younger brother
of the fleeing suspect and the commercial motorcycle operator, have
been arrested by the police, while the main suspect is still on the
run at press time.
While confirming the incident to newsmen, the Vice Chairman of Umuele
kindred, Mr. Ethel Ogu, also said the town union executives had
severally advised the fleeing drug dealer to stop the illicit trade
but he refused.
"We severally warned the suspect to stop the illicit drug trade, which
fuelled influx of unknown faces into our kindred at odd times, but he
never took the warning before this incident,"Ogu said.
When Vanguard visited the palace of the traditional ruler of Umunakanu
autonomous community, Eze Onyeji, his aides said that although he was
not at home at the time, he quickly said he would not want to be drawn
into the incident.
The mobile line of the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr.
Andrew Enwerem, a deputy superintendent of police, could not be
reached before press time, for his comment, but another police source
claimed that Homicide Detectives had already started investigating the
matter.
-Vanguard
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