Elias Ofoke, a commercial motorcyclist, has been allegedly killed by a suspected mentally challenged man in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi state.
The incident, which happened on Saturday, September 19, 2020, around Udensi Street Bridge, left members of the motorcycle transport union, Ebonyi state chapter in shock and residents in shock.
The victim hails from Agbaja Unuhu in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
He reportedly left his family this morning in search of daily bread only to be brutally killed.
It was gathered that members of Neighborhood Watch Security had earlier this morning tried to arrest the alleged mentally challenged man who resisted the arrest.
The situation degenerated into a right during which the neighborhood watch officials allegedly beat up the mentally challenged man.
Due to intervention of some passersby they left the mentally challenged person.
But some residents who knew the man’s temperamental nature pleaded with them not to abandon him there as such could endanger the lives of others.
After they left, the mentally challenged person rushed Mr. Ofoke, who had just dropped his passenger around the area, and hit him on the head with an object killing him instantly.
Chris Anyanwu, the divisional police officer, DPO, Kpirikpiri Division, confirmed the incident.
He said Police have arrested the suspect and commenced investigation into the matter.
Paulinus Atam, the state chairman, Motorcycle Transport Union Ebonyi State Chapter, lamented the death of Mr Ofoke.
Stanley Okoro Emegha, the commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, said that he has been notified of the tragedy.
He noted that the police have waded into the matter and assured that the culprit would be brought to book.
The Commissioner however denied that his officials of the Neighbourhood Watch Security outfit attacked the mentally challenged man.
“Neighborhood watch security officials, who have being working for the safety of the people in the state, could not have unleashed attack on a mad person and abandon such a person to endanger the lives of others on the streets”, he argued.
A nephew to the deceased, Mr. Opoke Innocent, who identified his late uncle as a married man with six children, called on the state government to come to the aid of the family.
The corpse of the victim has been taken to the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital mortuary, Abakaliki.
The wounded mentally challenged suspect was taken to the police clinic for medical attention.
Source: The Nation
