The kinsmen of 42-year-old Emeka Okafor are demanding justice following his death, after he was allegedly thrown down from a four-storey building.
South-East Punch learnt that the deceased died after the tragic fall from the fourth floor of the property located along Afubera Street, Odoakpu, near Onitsha, in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He was said to have died in the early hours of Friday.
The incident happened after the deceased was allegedly accused of stealing some boxer shorts belonging to his employer, who owns the property.
The kinsmen of the deceased subsequently raised a delegation from Ogboji community in the Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, where the deceased hailed from, to the Central Police Station in Onitsha to demand justice over the gruesome killing of Okafor.
The delegation was led by the President General of the community, Ndubuisi Nwaedozie; Regent of Ogboji Community, Dr Kay Anyacho, as well as other members of the community, including some of the family members of the deceased.
During the visit on Monday, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Olusegun Kayode, on behalf of the CPS Division, assured members of the delegation that the matter would not be swept under the carpet, adding that investigations have commenced.
Kayode appealed to the people not to take the law into their own hands, noting that some suspects have been arrested and the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department, in Awka for further and proper investigation.
He urged the media to liaise with the state Police Public Relations Officer, for proper briefing on the matter, as he was not authorised to speak with the media.
Speaking to journalists amid tears shortly after meeting with the police, the junior brother of the deceased, Sunday Oguejiofor, alleged that his elder brother was gang-killed after being accused of theft.
Oguejiofor said, “He was the manager in the said property, he also resided in the building and was also employed by the owner to supervise his factory. Some parts of the building is being used as a factory.
“He called me two weeks ago that the wife of his employer has been threatening to deal with him for no justifiable reason before the unfortunate incident happened.
“I was at home when I received a call some days ago that my brother has died after he was thrown down from the fourth floor of the building. Only for me to arrive at the vicinity to meet his lifeless body. His head was tied with a piece of cloth, suggesting his face was covered before they threw him down.
“He was falsely accused of stealing boxer shorts from the factory he supervised, I learnt some of the workers beat him and locked him up for three days before he was thrown down from the fourth floor of the building around 3am that fateful day.
“He was 42-years-old. He was not yet married. I am begging the Police and other concern authorities to come to our aid, we want justice for our late brother.”
Other members of the delegation, who spoke, insisted that Okafor was falsely accused, beaten and thrown to his death from the four-storey building.
The President General, Ogboji Development Union, Nwaedozie, said what the community wants is total justice for the late Emeka Okafor.
Nwaedozie said, “We urged the police authorities not to sweep the matter under the carpet because we are very much interested in this case. We can’t afford to lose a young promising man of 42-year-old just like that. Justice must be served. We want those behind this to face justice. The incident is shocking and painful.”
Other members of the delegation included the Councillor Representing Ogboji Ward, Ikechukwu Nwokoye; the APGA councillorship candidate for Ogboji Ward, Ernest Uba; the Chairman OTU, Onitsha branch, Nze Obinna Okafor; Patron, OTU, Onitsha Branch, Nze Arinze Nwokoye; Onyebuchi Sunday, Kenechukwu Orajiaka, and siblings of the deceased, Sunday Oguejiofor and Enuma Okafor.
The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said major suspects have been arrested and investigations is ongoing.
Ikenga said an autopsy will be conducted for other necessary findings and actions.
He said, “There are so many comments going viral that are aiding the investigation, some allegedly said the victim was killed by those who employed him. While others said the deceased attempted to escape by jumping down from the building after being locked in a room; and so many other testimonies from some witnesses at the scene.
“I can assure you that the police are working with all the information to make sure we ensure justice is served. The case is under investigation. But the suspects are in custody.”
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