A 17-year-old boy has died after being beaten up with sticks
by men of the Enugu State Waste Management Agency.
Before his death, the boy, Chidiebere Edeh, lived with his
parents at 20 Ifenze Street in the Abakpa area of the state and was sitting for
the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination.
Punch Metro learnt that he died at about 3pm on Monday, nine
hours after being beaten up by five ESWAMA agents and a police officer.
It was gathered that a scuffle between ESWAMA agents and
Chidiebere ensued minutes after the deceased allegedly disposed of a bag of
rubbish at one of the approved dumpsites.
Apparently not happy with the manner he discarded the
rubbish, residents who live close to the dump site told our correspondent that
the ESWAMA agents immediately began to hit him with sticks.
“All attempts by the boy to explain to them that the rubbish
was tied into a big black nylon bag, as recommended by ESWAMA, and neatly
dumped proved abortive,” said one of the residents.
The resident, Obinna Madukwe, said the ESWAMA men hit the
deceased harder when he refused being taken away in a commercial bus.
According to Madukwe, the noise attracted some other people
to the scene who continued to plead with them.
He said, “Instead of listening to our pleas, they threatened
to arrest us and chased us away.”
Mother of the deceased, Mrs. Catherine Edeh, said she went
to the dumpsite having waited endlessly for her son to return home.
Catherine told our correspondent that she pleaded with the
ESWAMA agents, adding that they threatened to beat her if she didn’t steer
clear.
She said she left to look for money to bail her son, but
returned to meet the place deserted.
Catherine said, “A tricycle man brought me back there and we
couldn’t find anyone, except for someone who laid by the centre of the road,
just inches away from the dumpsite.
“I initially took the person for a mad man and we were about
leaving when I noticed blood gushing out from the body, and then something made
me to look properly. Lo and behold, it was my son – almost dead.
“He had been beaten to stupor and at that point, the only
wise thing to do was to take him to a hospital in Abakpa.
“Had I known, I would have gone to throw away the rubbish
myself. It’s just that it was about 6.30am and I was preparing to go to the
market and his younger brother was busy.
“He was to return to Ngwo to continue with his SSCE exams
and now he is no more.”
Our correspondent visited the hospital – Ogechukwu Hospital
– where the doctor on duty disclosed that Chidiebere died from internal
bleeding.
The doctor, who pleaded anonymity, said, “He had a damaged
brain and suffered deep wounds at his back and the rear of his head. His eyes
popped out, the right leg was shifted and swollen.”
When contacted, the Managing Director of ESWAMA, Mr.
Don Okonkwo, declined comments.
Other members of staff of the agency also refused
commenting, saying they had been warned against talking to the press on the
matter.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu,
confirmed the incident.
“Investigations into the incident have commenced to
ascertain what actually transpired,” Amaraizu said.
Meanwhile, the International Solidarity for Peace and Human
Rights Initiative has demanded justice in the murder of Chidiebere by officials
of ESWAMA.
President of the group, Mr. Osmond Ugwu, said the probe
should not be cumbersome as those involved were known to ESWAMA management.
He said, “The management knows very well those in charge of
Enugu East Local Government Area, while those in Enugu East in turn know who
they sent out on duty at such place, date and time.
“If ESWAMA management
failed to produce them under the guise that they didn’t know them, it means
that members of public are in danger and should be encouraged not to honour any
ESWAMA agent.”
Ugwu urged the commissioner of police to prevail on ESWAMA
management and police officers assigned to ESWAMA to produce the killers
of Chidiebere and prosecute them in
accordance with the law.
He insisted that ESWAMA authority should pay the necessary compensation to the family for the loss.
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