Police Begin Investigation Into Death Of Ebonyi Lecturer

Posted by African Examiner African News, Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Saturday, January 16th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Ebonyi state police Command in South- East Nigeria, says it has begun full scale investigation into the recent alleged murder of Mr. Kyrian Nwoke, a lecturer at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) in the state.

African Examiner reports that the University teacher, was allegedly murdered recently by yet to be identified armed men, and his corpse was reportedly found along Abakaliki rice mill area of Ogoja Road, last Monday, with bullet wounds in parts of his body.

Until his gruesome murder, Nwoke, was lecturing in the Department of Physiology in the University, which was renamed after late former Nigeria’s Vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The deceased was using his car for a taxi business in order to fend for himself and his family following the hardship occasioned by the lingering dispute between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASSU which has led to the withholding of salaries of lecturers for months.

Before his lifeless body was eventually found, the deceased lecturer had gone missing on Sunday after a yet-to-be-identified person called him to come to Udemezue in Abakaliki to pick customers to a popular eatery along Ogoja Road.

Speaking with African Examiner via telephone on the development, Ebonyi state police public Relations officer PPRO, Loveth Odah, said investigation on the incident was ongoing, adding that no arrest has been made to that effect so far.

She said the Command is doing every within its powers to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death.

The Ebonyi police Spokesperson, who frowned at the delay by the deceased family in bringing his missing information to the police, wondered why it took them almost four days before reporting it to the security outfit.

She disclosed that the matter has been transferred from the Divisional police level to the state Command headquarters, and that the autopsy result is currently being awaited.

“Why did it take the family almost four days to report to the police? This incident according to them, happened on the 10th of this month, and they came to report it on 13.

“We want to appeal to the media to help us sensitize the people of the state to always report such cases of missing person to the police promptly, so as to enable us swing into action

“However, like i said earlier, investigation is ongoing on the incident, and the Command is going to ensure that the circumstances leading to the death is unraveled” Odah stated.

A source close to the deceased family who craved anonimty said” owing to the withheld salaries of lecturers for over four months, Kyrian registered his car for taxi service to be able to feed his family (wife and his 2-year-old daughter).

“Kyrian was called to go and pick customers at Udemezue street and drop them at a popular eatery known for local delicacies at Ogoja Road, Abakaliki, on Sunday 10th January.

“He didn’t return as his lifeless body was found the next day near the Rice Mill along the same Ogoja road with bullet wounds.