Ruth Semilore
A 23-year-old student of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Ebonyi State, was allegedly drugged to death on his birthday in Agbo Ibeku, Abia State, by his friend on Thursday.
It was gathered that the young man identified as Chinedu Hope was lured by his friend, Dan, after much persuasion to a hideout operated by a drug baron, simply known as Yoko in Umuodudu Ibeku.
Narrating all she knows, the mother, Mrs Stella Ogbonnaya, said that on getting to the place, Chinedu, who doesn’t take hard drugs, decided to wait for Dan inside his (Dan’s) Keke while Dan went inside the bunk.
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Ogbonnaya said that after waiting for too long, Chinedu decided to go into the place to call Dan, adding, “When Chinedu went inside, the operator of the hideout, Yoko, and four others who are also from Umuodudu were all in the hideout.
“When Chinedu got inside, Yoko said that whoever steps into the bunk, must partake in what they are taking. But Chinedu doesn’t take ice, (otherwise known as methamphetamine or mkpurummiri) or jico and Chinedu told Yoko he wouldn’t take it.
“It was at that time that Yoko ordered the rest to tie Chinedu with rope. Dan assisted them in tying him, both hands and legs, threw him on the ground, mixed the ice (methamphetamine) and jico, used a spoon to open his mouth, and poured the mixed substance into his mouth while hitting him with a hammer to make him swallow it.
“After he had swallowed all of the mixed substance, they took him to where they had digged a pit and threw him into the pit. He was struggling inside the pit with both hands and legs with the rope while he kept shouting ‘my stomach, my stomach’”, Ogbonnaya narrated.
When they discovered that Chinedu was struggling to breathe, Madam Ogbonnaya said, one of the people at the hideout picked up his phone and called a young man identified simply as Aham, and told him what had happened.
It was Aham who rushed dying Chinedu to the Keke to revive him, and on taking him to the hospital, he was pronounced dead.
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“I gave birth to Chinedu on April 18, 2001; on Thursday was his 23rd birthday. Dan celebrated his friend’s (Chinedu’s) birthday with ice,” the mother lamented.
Also speaking, the father of the deceased, Hope Oluoha, appealed to the President, the Inspector General of Police, the state government and security agencies to do a thorough investigation into the matter and bring the culprits to book.
Also speaking, the twin sister of the deceased, Favour Hope, described her relationship with her twin brother as very close, adding that her twin brother, Chinedu never hid anything from her.
She confirmed that Chinedu did not smoke nor take hard drugs and does not also keep friends except Dan, who is well known to them as a family friend.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in Umuahia, ASP Maureen Chinaka confirmed the incident stating, “investigation is on”.
According to her in a statement she issued on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwumelie, the PPRO said, “On 19/4/2024, the Central Police Station (CPS) Umuahia received a report from Hope Oluoha, a 52-year-old Male of Agbo Emede Ibeku Umuahia that on 18/4/2024, one Daniel Otuechere male 27 years old of same address took his son, Hope Chinedu Prosper, male 23 years old to an unknown destination and returned home with his lifeless body.
“The body was taken to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.
“Detectives from the Command visited the scene and the body has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.
“Suspects connected with the crime have been arrested, and a discreet investigation is ongoing.”
