Tragedy struck last Sunday, 6th August, 2023 at Onitsha when a middle-aged man identified as Vincent Chukwujekwu, a commercial vehicle driver was allegedly hacked to death by some agberos who were said to be demanding the payment of N800. The video of the corpse of the deceased on a stretcher, has gone viral.
According to some eye witnesses, Mr Chukwujekwu was said to have been stopped by the agberos who, it was not confirmed if they were agents of Anambra State Government, and demanded the sum of N800 from him. However, an altercation ensued between him and the boys and it was said that one of them hit him on the head with a metal object. Chukwujekwu, a father of 5, who hails from Umunor, Utuh, Nnewi was said to have alighted from his vehicle and ran towards a co-driver of another commercial vehicle holding his head and calling the names of the people that hit him.
He was said to have slumped and died as a result of the injury which might have affected his brain, and excessive loss of blood.
Few days ago, another driver of a truck was killed in similar circumstance at the boundary between Anambra and Enugu State. He was said to have been killed by produce revenue collectors because N8,000. The incident led to the blockade of the Enugu – Onitsha Expressway and old road for several hours by truck drivers protesting his death. Sequel to that, the Enugu State Government had banned revenue collectors on the highways in the State. The Order was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Onyia.
In Anambra State, the Government has been in a running battle with agents who claim to be collecting monies on behalf of the State. It is a common knowledge that some politicians were given the franchise to collect revenues and remit part to the State treasury. The governor Prof. Charles Soludo on assumption of office banned all such collections in parks and roads in the State. However, some elements have refused to heed the government’s order as such monies collected end up in private pockets, instead. Onitsha is very notorious for illegal revenue collectors under different guises at motor parks and markets.
Meanwhile, a youth leader and Chairman Utuh Mbadike Youth Wing, Belonwu Ugochukwu Ugo has chided the Anambra State governor, Chukwuma Soludo for his seeming inability to rein in agberos and miscreants used as tax collectors in the state contrary to his promise . Mr Ugu who is seeking justice for the murdered Chukwujekwu said: “..here is my brother who was murdered in Onitsha because of N800, we are seeking justice for our brother whom his life was cut short by you tax collectors.
“We join our voice to that of other Anambrarians seeking justice for our brother and his family and we believe in dialogue through peace”, Ike Mbadike, Belonwu Ugo concluded.
It is not clear if any arrests had been made by the Police as a result of the murder of Chukwujekwu. His corpse has been deposited at a public morgue by his relations.
Source: Drumnewsonline
