Traders under the aegis of the Ebute-Ero Market Union, Lagos State, have demanded justice for their colleague, Chijioke Nzube, whose corpse was discovered by the police on Monday.
PUNCH Metro learnt that some of the deceased’s colleagues discovered that something was amiss when Nzube’s phone number was unreachable on January 30.
The traders became apprehensive when the 26-year-old did not show up at his provision store in the Idumota, Lagos Island area of the state the following day.
Chidi Nweze, a spokesperson for the union, told THE PUNCH that it was when his group visited the FESTAC Police Station that they discovered that Nzube had died.
He said, “When his phone number did not go through, we contacted his boss, but his lines did not connect as well. We later reached his boss’ son, and he came to meet us.
“He said they were also searching for him. We asked if they had reported to the police, but he said no. We advised them to report to the police and that three market officials would accompany him to the police station.
“The boy said the family would go to the police station first then brief the market officials on the outcome later. The boy later started enquiring where Chijioke lived. Chijioke was no longer serving them; he was on his own. He just got his apartment and was set to vacate their place on Sunday when this incident happened.
“They all lived together at 4th Avenue, FESTAC. After we interviewed the boy, we asked him to go and make an entry with the police. He promised to go later, and he brought out the key to the deceased’s shop.
“He tried to open the shop, but was challenged by other traders. We asked him how he got the key, and he said he had an interest in the shop and that it was not our concern, but we stopped him from opening the shop.”
Nweze explained that the market leaders later decided to visit the deceased’s community to find out what happened and report to the police.
“When we got to FESTAC Police Station and met the DPO, we explained everything that happened, and he asked if we had his picture. We showed him the picture of the boy and the DPO shook his head.
“After shaking his head, he brought out the picture of a corpse that was sent to him. He said the corpse was dumped at 5th Avenue on Sunday night till Monday morning when it was recovered. When we checked the picture, it was Chijioke’s.
“All we want now is justice for the deceased who was an only child with nobody to fight for him. During the week before the incident, Chijioke appeared at the store with a wound in his eye and when his colleagues asked him how he sustained the wound, he said they quarrelled. The Saturday before the incident, Chijioke kept receiving calls to come home that there was an issue they needed to resolve,” he added.
The matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, and three suspects had been arrested.
Adekunle Ajisebutu, the state Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed that three suspects had been arrested, adding that the investigation was ongoing.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, has directed that no stone should be left unturned in unravelling the circumstances surrounding the death of the victim.”
