Curfew: 22-year-old man dies in Anambra while trying to escape police

By Okechukwu Onuegbu

Tension is building up in Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra state as youths of the community on Thursday, protested over the death of a-22-year old man allegedly murdered on Wednesday night.

The protesters, bearing placards of different inscriptions, insisted that the lockdown and Curfew should be totally lifted especially in Anambra state, which according to them, was yet to record death to COVID-19 yet its enforcement had allegedly killed over two persons. 

The deceased, whose name was given as Mr Anthony Okafor,  was allegedly knocked down by commercial tricycle operator at about 8.15pm while being chased in the area by the police enforcing the national wide curfew. But another version of the story claimed that the deceased, who was an only child was allegedly shot dead by a law enforcement agent while running away from been apprehended for violating the national order.

A source alleged that the youths were furious and planned to attack Nimo Divisional Police Station to avenge death of their fellow youth “ The youths have setup fire works on the road, preventing vehicular movements. The slain is a barber apprentice. He hailed from Adagbe Avomimi village of Enugwu Ugwu. I heard he was heading home from work yesterday around few minutes past 8, and men of police force from Nimo unit chased him until he was knocked down by a moving vehicle.”

However, as at time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anambra state command, Mr Haruna Muhammed was yet to react to an official inquiry sent him through an official WhatsApp forum.
Confirming the report, an indigene of Enugwu-Ukwu and member, representing Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia at Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo, urged the youths to be calm as he was reaching out to the security men and other stakeholders.
“I reliably gathered that a few minutes past 8pm in the night, a young apprentice barber, Mr Anthony Okafor was being trailed by men of the Nigerian Police Force, Nimo Division. The chase resulted to his eventual death as he was knocked down by a shuttle bus as he tried to escape from police arrest. The police men were said to be enforcing the Federal Government lockdown curfew.

As your representative, I condemn in strong terms, the action of our uniformed men which led to the death of this young man. It’s really a heartbreaking one. The world has bled enough, and now needs healing, not accidental deaths. While I stand with my people, I must quickly submit here and now also, that violent protest or taking of laws into our hands will only aggravate the situation even more. I therefore call on all and sundry to be calm and peaceful, and be rest assured that necessary actions are currently been taken to address the situation and commence investigations on the sad incidence,” he added.