Community Protests Killing of Factory Worker Allegedly Beaten, Thrown from Four-Storey Building
- The Ogboji community in Anambra has staged a protest at the Onitsha police station over the death of a 42-year-old factory worker
- The deceased was reportedly beaten and thrown from a four-storey factory building after alleged workplace accusations
- Police confirmed arrests and planned a CID-led investigation, while the community demanded full accountability for the killing
A delegation from the Ogboji community in Orumba South local government area of Anambra state staged a peaceful protest at the Central Police Station (CPS) in Onitsha on Sunday, March 29, demanding justice over the alleged killing of 42-year-old Emeka Okafor, an indigene of the town, who was reportedly killed at his workplace in Onitsha.
Source: UGC
The protesters, led by the President General of the Ogboji Town Union, Hon. Ndubuisi Nwaedozie, called on Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo and the state police command to intervene and unravel the puzzle behind the death.
The deceased, who reportedly served as a supervisor at a boxer shorts factory located at No.17 Aforbe Street, Odekpe Road, Onitsha, was allegedly accused of theft before he was killed.
The community claimed that in the early hours of Saturday, March 28, Okafor was beaten and thrown down from a four-storey building housing the factory.
The PG said, "We are here to register our pains and to appeal to the police authority to speed up the investigation. We cannot afford to lose a promising 42-year-old man just like that. We want those behind this to face the wrath of the law."
Responding to the protesters on behalf of the division, ACP Olusegun Kayode, thanked the community for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves.
He, however, urged the community members not to take the law into their own hands. He confirmed that all suspects fingered in the young man's killing have already been arrested, and announced that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Awka for a more thorough probe.
What demands were made for justice?
Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng correspondent, the President General said that the Ogboji community would have mobilised in their numbers, gone to the factory and pulled it down, if they were not law-abiding people.
He condemned the reckless killing of the 42-year-old and urged police and the Anambra government to ensure the culprits are brought to justice.
Source: Original
"My community was grieved when we got the information about the killing of Emeka, a promising 42-year-old guy. If left alone, youths would have opted to go to the factory in their hundreds and pull the place down."
"But being a law-abiding people, we decided to follow the law. We decided to allow the police to do their job, but we demand that the culprits must be smoked out and punished."
Also, speaking with Legit.ng, the victim’s kinsman, Sunday Eguejiofor, claimed that the killing was a “gang-style” execution carried out by people in the factory. He suggested that his brother was targeted for his loyalty to the factory owner, Mr. Anthony, an indigene of Nnewi.
He said, “My late brother called me two weeks ago and said that the wife of his employer had been threatening to deal with him for no reason.”
He further claimed that his brother was blindfolded and locked in a room for three days before being thrown down from a four-storey building.
“He was 42, with no wife or children. Everything he labored for in this world is gone just like that,” he added.
The protest saw a significant turnout of community leaders, including Onowu Ogboji, Evang. Kay Anyacho, the Councillor representing Ogboji Ward, Hon. Ikechukwu Nwokoye, and the APGA councillorship candidate, Mr. Ernest Chidozie Ub, as well as the deceased’s sibling, Enuma Okafor, all of whom demanded accountability for the tragic loss.
Ebonyi community petitions over 41 killings
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Umobor Akaeze community in Ebonyi state petitioned the National Assembly after allegedly losing 41 residents to violence over a land dispute. They urged the enforcement of a Supreme Court ruling on their ancestral land.
The petition, led by Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, called on authorities to act against alleged perpetrators, including politically connected individuals, and sought intervention from the state Boundary Committee and Ivo local government to implement the apex court judgment.
Source: Legit.ng
Ololade Olatimehin (Editorial Assistant) Olatimehin Ololade is a seasoned communications expert with over 7 years of experience, skilled in content creation, team leadership, and strategic communications, with a proven track record of success in driving engagement and growth. Spearheaded editorial operations, earning two promotions within 2 years (Giantability Media Network). Currently an Editorial Assistant at Legit.ng, covering experts' exclusive comments. Contact me at Olatimehin.ololade@corp.legit.ng or +234 802 533 3205.
Mokwugo Solomon (Anambra State Correspondent) Anambra's regional correspondent Mokwugwo Solomon is an Editor, Investigative Journalist, and Media Consultant, with a wealth of experience spanning 17 years. He bagged his B/Ed degree in English Education from University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University. After 17 years in various areas of journalism, Mokwugwo Solomon is now the Correspondent of Legit.ng in Anambra State, Nigeria, where he applies his expertise to provide incisive coverage of events. Contact him at: mokwugwosolomon@gmail.com OR: +2348063831036.
