The
desire of every young undergraduate in Nigeria is to put on the uniform of the
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and be addressed as a ‘corper. But fate was
very cruel to 24-year-old Augusta Chizoba Ndukwu of Umufu-Amaimo, Ikeduru Local
Government area of Imo State. She was gruesomely murdered by unknown persons at
Upper Iweka area of the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State.
desire of every young undergraduate in Nigeria is to put on the uniform of the
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and be addressed as a ‘corper. But fate was
very cruel to 24-year-old Augusta Chizoba Ndukwu of Umufu-Amaimo, Ikeduru Local
Government area of Imo State. She was gruesomely murdered by unknown persons at
Upper Iweka area of the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State.
It was quite sad that Augusta, who had
survived a series of hostilities and bombings by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko
Haram, in Adamawa State, where she observed her one-year mandatory national
youth service, would painfully meet her untimely death in a place she felt was
her home.
Her voice was filled with joy when she
spoke to her relatives in Owerri on phone, telling them that she had finally
come home. She told them that she was at the luxurious park in Upper Iweka,
informing them also that she would join them in Owerri the next morning. But
she never lived to see the faces of her loved ones, as she was gruesomely murdered
by unknown persons that fateful night.
spoke to her relatives in Owerri on phone, telling them that she had finally
come home. She told them that she was at the luxurious park in Upper Iweka,
informing them also that she would join them in Owerri the next morning. But
she never lived to see the faces of her loved ones, as she was gruesomely murdered
by unknown persons that fateful night.
Daily Sun gathered
that the deceased, a graduate of Banking and Finance from the Federal
Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, was found lying in the pool of her own blood at
the notorious fly-over at Upper Iweka on September 12.
that the deceased, a graduate of Banking and Finance from the Federal
Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, was found lying in the pool of her own blood at
the notorious fly-over at Upper Iweka on September 12.
According to a family member and the
Vice Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Imo State Council, Chief
Chris Akaraonye, Chizoba left Yola, the capital of Adamawa State on September
11 where she was having her NYSC primary assignment. She was travelling to
Onitsha en route Owerri but could not get to her final destination that time
because it was already late.
Vice Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Imo State Council, Chief
Chris Akaraonye, Chizoba left Yola, the capital of Adamawa State on September
11 where she was having her NYSC primary assignment. She was travelling to
Onitsha en route Owerri but could not get to her final destination that time
because it was already late.
Chief Akaraonye further said the
deceased, who had boarded a luxurious bus belonging to a popular transport
company (names withheld), called her relatives to inform them that she could
not make it again to Owerri. She also informed them that she had decided to
pass the night at the company’s motor park together with other passengers.
However, according to him, the following day, the family of the deceased,
including her fiancé, waited in anxiety for the arrival of Chizoba in Owerri
but to no avail. They then started trying her mobile line, but it had been
switched off.
deceased, who had boarded a luxurious bus belonging to a popular transport
company (names withheld), called her relatives to inform them that she could
not make it again to Owerri. She also informed them that she had decided to
pass the night at the company’s motor park together with other passengers.
However, according to him, the following day, the family of the deceased,
including her fiancé, waited in anxiety for the arrival of Chizoba in Owerri
but to no avail. They then started trying her mobile line, but it had been
switched off.
“At first, we thought she had a low
battery. But after waiting for almost the whole day, we realized it was not
usual and we decided to make moves to know why somebody that spoke to us at 10
pm last night could not be reached on phone or could not get to Owerri. In the
course of our doubts and fears, we started going through different police
stations and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) formations along the
Onitsha-Owerri Road to ascertain if she was involved in a motor accident.
battery. But after waiting for almost the whole day, we realized it was not
usual and we decided to make moves to know why somebody that spoke to us at 10
pm last night could not be reached on phone or could not get to Owerri. In the
course of our doubts and fears, we started going through different police
stations and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) formations along the
Onitsha-Owerri Road to ascertain if she was involved in a motor accident.
It was when we came to Onitsha that we
found her corpse at the Onitsha General Mortuary with gunshot wounds to her
chest.” In the next morning, early passersby were shocked to their marrow when
they beheld the gory sight of a lady lying in the pool of her own blood at the
Upper Iweka axis with two travelling bags filled with children clothing and
popcorn. One of the eyewitnesses who pleaded anonymity said that the deceased
was a victim of ritual killers.
found her corpse at the Onitsha General Mortuary with gunshot wounds to her
chest.” In the next morning, early passersby were shocked to their marrow when
they beheld the gory sight of a lady lying in the pool of her own blood at the
Upper Iweka axis with two travelling bags filled with children clothing and
popcorn. One of the eyewitnesses who pleaded anonymity said that the deceased
was a victim of ritual killers.
She confirmed that she was found lying
at the Upper Iweka flyover with gunshot wounds on her chest and two travelling
bags containing children clothes and popcorn beside her corpse. Though the
police swiftly said the deceased could be the victim of an armed robbery
attack, they also revealed that the bags were planted by the assailants to
divert police investigations, stressing that the police had commenced
investigations into the circumstances surrounding the murder.
at the Upper Iweka flyover with gunshot wounds on her chest and two travelling
bags containing children clothes and popcorn beside her corpse. Though the
police swiftly said the deceased could be the victim of an armed robbery
attack, they also revealed that the bags were planted by the assailants to
divert police investigations, stressing that the police had commenced
investigations into the circumstances surrounding the murder.
The Campaign for Democracy (CD), South
East Zone has reacted to the incident, describing it as a sin against God and
humanity. The group called for proper investigations into the matter with a
view to unravelling the circumstances surrounding the senseless killing of the
deceased. The Chairman, South East Zone, Dede Uzor. A. Uzor condemned the act
while calling on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubarka to
personally detail a crack team of investigative police officers to look into
the death of the corps member. Dede Uzor further questioned the omission of the
deceased’s name in the passengers’ manifest and the alleged role that the
transport company played when they returned the bags of the deceased to Yola
without contacting the police.
East Zone has reacted to the incident, describing it as a sin against God and
humanity. The group called for proper investigations into the matter with a
view to unravelling the circumstances surrounding the senseless killing of the
deceased. The Chairman, South East Zone, Dede Uzor. A. Uzor condemned the act
while calling on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubarka to
personally detail a crack team of investigative police officers to look into
the death of the corps member. Dede Uzor further questioned the omission of the
deceased’s name in the passengers’ manifest and the alleged role that the
transport company played when they returned the bags of the deceased to Yola
without contacting the police.
Also speaking on the incident, Chairman
of Ndigbo Unity Forum, Mr. Augustine Chukwudum condemned the act, describing it
as the most wicked act and cruelty ever meted out to any corps member in the
history of the state. Mr. Chukwudum also said his group would mobilize to make
sure that criminal elements are sacked from the commercial city. He said the
presence of such criminals was hindering the development of commerce and
industry in the city.
of Ndigbo Unity Forum, Mr. Augustine Chukwudum condemned the act, describing it
as the most wicked act and cruelty ever meted out to any corps member in the
history of the state. Mr. Chukwudum also said his group would mobilize to make
sure that criminal elements are sacked from the commercial city. He said the
presence of such criminals was hindering the development of commerce and
industry in the city.
However, policemen attached to the
Central Police Station, CPS, Onitsha led by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO,
Mr. Abdul Yusuf said they have arrested three persons in connection with the
death of the corps member, adding that they were still working to unravel the
circumstances surrounding the murder of the deceased.
Central Police Station, CPS, Onitsha led by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO,
Mr. Abdul Yusuf said they have arrested three persons in connection with the
death of the corps member, adding that they were still working to unravel the
circumstances surrounding the murder of the deceased.
The police said, though, that it could
be possible that the girl was murdered at the park by some criminals who then
took her body to the Upper Iweka where they kept two bags containing clothes
belonging to a boy of six years just to divert police investigations.
be possible that the girl was murdered at the park by some criminals who then
took her body to the Upper Iweka where they kept two bags containing clothes
belonging to a boy of six years just to divert police investigations.
According to the police, the deceased
was not a victim of ritual
killing.
It was further gathered that the driver of the luxury bus that brought the
deceased from Yola to Onitsha on that fateful night, the manager of the
transport company and one other person whose identities were not yet known as
at press time have been arrested by the police.
was not a victim of ritual
killing.
It was further gathered that the driver of the luxury bus that brought the
deceased from Yola to Onitsha on that fateful night, the manager of the
transport company and one other person whose identities were not yet known as
at press time have been arrested by the police.
They were picked up to allegedly help
give insight to the death of the corps member as well as explain how and why
the management of the company swiftly returned the bags of the deceased to Yola
without informing the police. When contacted, the Anambra State Police
Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ralph Uzoigwe confirmed that three persons have
been arrested by the police to help them in the course of investigations.
give insight to the death of the corps member as well as explain how and why
the management of the company swiftly returned the bags of the deceased to Yola
without informing the police. When contacted, the Anambra State Police
Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ralph Uzoigwe confirmed that three persons have
been arrested by the police to help them in the course of investigations.
He appealed to the general public to
help the police with more information that could lead to the arrest of the real
killers of the corps member.
help the police with more information that could lead to the arrest of the real
killers of the corps member.
