It was a very sad weekend for the residents of Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, following the tragic event that occurred, as one Elias Ofoke, a commercial motorcyclist, on Saturday morning lost his life to an attack by a suspected mentally challenged man.
The incident, which happened around Udensi Street Bridge, left members of the motorcycle transport union, Ebonyi state chapter and residents in shock.
The victim, who hails from Agbaja Unuhu in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, reportedly left his family in search of daily bread only to meet his death.
News Echo Correspondent gathered that members of Neighborhood Watch Security had earlier on the fateful Saturday morning, tried to arrest the alleged mentally challenged man who resisted them.
The situation degenerated into a fight during which the neighborhood watch officials allegedly beat up the mentally challenged man.
The security men following intervention of some passersby left the mentally challenged person, against pleas by residents who knew the man’s temperamental nature, not to abandon him there as such could endanger the lives of others.
The mentally challenged person soon after rushed Mr Ofoke, the commercial motorcyclist who had just dropped his passenger around the area, and hit him on the head with an object, killing him instantly.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, Stanley Okoro Emegha while speaking on the incident, disclosed that he has been notified of the tragedy and assured that the culprit would be brought to book as police commenced investigation into the case.
He however denied that his officials of the Neighborhood Watch Security outfit attacked the mentally challenged man.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Kpirikpiri Division, Chris Anyanwu who confirmed the incident said the police have arrested the suspect and commenced investigation into the matter.
On his part, the State Chairman, Motorcycle Transport Union Ebonyi State Chapter, Paulinus Atam, expressed displeasure over the death of Mr Ofoke who is a member of the Union.
Meanwhile, 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, while the wounded mentally challenged suspect was taken to the police for further investigations.
