19 YEAR OLD BOY KILLED, BURIED BY YOUTHS IN ABIA COMMUNITY

On 27th January, 2024 in the sleeping town of Okayi Autonomous Community in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, a 19 year old boy, Ndukwe Isaac, was sent to untimely grave by the youths of the community.

He was alleged to have stolen one hundred and ten thousand naira (N110,000) from his own mother, which he used to buy clothes, radio and electrical accessories.

The boy lived with his mother in his maternal home due to family issues.

According to the father of the deceased, Isaac Maduka who is from Umuekpa, Akanụ Item, in Bende Local Government Area, the youths of Okayi lynched the boy and buried him with the directive of the traditional ruler of Okayi, Eze James Opara Ogbonnaya.

The visibly perturbed father who narrated his ordeal to Dream News said the community, led by the Prime Minister, who he identified as Prophet Igwe Kalu had also been threatening him afterwards.

“Trouble started in December of 2024. According to our communal arrangements, at that time of the year which is the harvest season, parents give their wards money, made from sales of farm produce to buy things they need for the Christmas festivities. As in the case of the late Ndukwe Isaac, he had helped the mother to cultivate rice which after harvest and sales of the rice, his mother refused to pay him an agreed amount.”

After much pressure from the late Ndukwe, the mother did not give him the money. The deceased accidentally came across the one hundred and ten thousand naira, hidden inside bag of rice by the mother which he took and bought those items. The mother discovered and questioned him which caused an argument between mother and son.

“His uncle (the mother’s brother) Anyim Igwe took up the matter and reported to the youths of the community who invited the boy. The youths tied him up and unleashed torture, in the name of investigation.”

“The late Ndukwe admitted to have used part of the money to buy some items for person use and that he had seventy five thousand naira left from the total amount. He also pledged to work for his mother to repay the money if that should be the case.”

From what we gathered, the boy fell into coma and eventually died from the torture. We also understand that an autopsy was carried out at the Federal Medical Center, FMC, Umuahia after the body was exhumed which also confirmed that he died of complications from the torture.

“When they called me that my son was dead, at that time, I was preparing the burial of my mother. I told them to wait for me to come. I instructed that they deposit his body in the Mortuary until I come back. I also reminded them that it was a mother case, for them to leave him. The traditional ruler of Okayi, Eze James Opara Ogbonnaya, said thay would bury him if I didn’t come which he did. That burial was done on the 28th of January, 2024.”

“When I came back, I went to meet one Inspector Impu who advised me to report to the police. I went to Igbere police station and reported the matter.”

“But then, I was terribly sick that I could not carry on with the case. I spent months on my sick bed. When I recovered, I took up the case again and asked them to show me my son and where they burned him.”

” With that, the Eze was arrested and is being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Umuahia.”

Moreso, Isaac Maduka alleged that the Traditional Prime Minister has been threatening to kill him, thereby restricting his movement. The said Prime Minister has visited him severally at night in the company of some youths in the community, demanding he withdraw the case.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka said the command is not aware of the threats but advised he report to the nearest police station.