Heavy protest erupted in Enugu on Tuesday following the alleged brutal murder of a 17-year-old boy by officials of the Enugu State Waste Management Authority, ESWAMA.
Spokesman of the Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the death of the boy identified as Ede Chidiebere
According to Amaraizu, “the deceased, living at No 10 Ugwuoke Street, Abakpa with his aunty identified as one Chidinma Ochudo Michael had gone to dispose some refuse at a dump site near T/junction Abakpa Nike around 6.am when he was confronted by men suspected to be Enugu State Waste Management Authority, who had laid siege at the dump side which they designed unauthorized.
“It was further gathered that he was thoroughly beaten and left lying unconscious along the road by Corner Stone, via Nike Lake Road, Trans Ekulu Enugu before he was taken to Ogechukwu Hospital Trans Ekulu, where he was confirmed dead.
“The commissioner of Police, Adamu Abubakar Mohammed has appealed for calm, just as he promise to fish out the perpetrators of the act”.
Amaraizu added that the police have commenced investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Hundreds of youths from Iji Nike had trooped out to the streets expressing anger over the death of their colleague.
The youths, who visited various media houses alleged that Chidiebere was arrested when he attempted to drop refuse at an official dump site being managed by the ESWAMA.
One of the protesting youths said that Chidiebere, an SSS 3 student, was supposed to write his geography examination on Tuesday.
“He was to head for school after disposing that refuse, but ESWAMA officials ended the life of such a promising young man that way”, he lamented.
Attempts to reach the Managing Director of ESWAMA was not successful as at the time of filling this report.