OUTRAGED at the gruesome murder of a Nigerian in the Brownsville area of
Brooklyn, the police in New York have begun a move to unravel the
suspected attackers.
Brooklyn, the police in New York have begun a move to unravel the
suspected attackers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Sunday quoted sources as saying that the
victim of the attack, Uro Ama Orji, 54, a cab driver in the area,
was stabbed in the eye with an umbrella on Thursday.
victim of the attack, Uro Ama Orji, 54, a cab driver in the area,
was stabbed in the eye with an umbrella on Thursday.
After he had been wounded, his vehicle crashed into two parked sports
utility vehicles at Lott Avenue and Boyland Street at about 5.30 p.m.
utility vehicles at Lott Avenue and Boyland Street at about 5.30 p.m.
Orji, who resided in Queens, was taken to Brookdale Hospital where he was
pronounced dead.
pronounced dead.
Following the development, a $5,000 reward was offered for information
that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.
that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.
The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers offered a $3,000 reward,
while the group of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care offered another $2,000.
while the group of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care offered another $2,000.
Police said they were looking for a man and woman who were passengers
in the cab and seen running from the scene.
in the cab and seen running from the scene.
A video showed the man getting out of the cab, opening the front door of the
vehicle and stabbing Orji with an umbrella.
vehicle and stabbing Orji with an umbrella.
“It’s clearly on that video. You have a female and male, and the male runs,
the young lady walking away, perhaps guilt got the best of her.
the young lady walking away, perhaps guilt got the best of her.
“This is a total outrage. This is just a guy trying to make a buck to
probably feed himself and his family only to have his life taken for less than
$10 or maybe $20 , which is close to the average fare one would pay for a local
ride inside Brooklyn”, community advisor, Tony Herbert, said.
probably feed himself and his family only to have his life taken for less than
$10 or maybe $20 , which is close to the average fare one would pay for a local
ride inside Brooklyn”, community advisor, Tony Herbert, said.
“It’s a very dangerous job, a very dangerous business,” Fernando Mateo,
President of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, also said.
President of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, also said.
Community activists are asking a UPS driver who might have witnessed the
incident to come forward.
incident to come forward.
Orji, a father of five children, came from Nigeria to U.S. 10 years ago to
make a better living for his family.
make a better living for his family.
His children, whose ages are from 13 to 22, arrived in U.S. from
Nigeria in December.
Nigeria in December.
“It’s still early, fresh. They are still in the denial stage,” said Orji’s
brother, Agwu Ana Agwu.
brother, Agwu Ana Agwu.
His sister-in-law, Chinedum Agwu, said he was a good father who was just
trying to make ends meet.
trying to make ends meet.
“He was a very dedicated, loving father. An innocent man who was just
working hard to make sure his kids eat. Everything he was doing was to
take care of his children.
working hard to make sure his kids eat. Everything he was doing was to
take care of his children.
“It’s horrible. How do you do something like that? How do you wake up and
have in your mind to go out and hurt somebody?” she said.
have in your mind to go out and hurt somebody?” she said.
Source: Guardian
