up with sticks by men of the Enugu State
Waste Management Agency.
Before his death, the boy, Chidiebere Edeh,
lived with his parents at 20 Ifenze Street in
the Abakpa area of the state and was sitting
for the ongoing Senior School Certificate
Examination.
PUNCH Metro learnt that he died at about
3pm on Monday, nine hours after being
beaten up by five ESWAMA agents and a police
officer.
It was gathered that a scuffle between
ESWAMA agents and Chidiebere ensued
minutes after the deceased allegedly disposed
of a bag of rubbish at one of the approved
dumpsites.
Apparently not happy with the manner he
discarded the rubbish, residents who live
close to the dump site told our correspondent
that the ESWAMA agents immediately began to
hit him with sticks.
"All attempts by the boy to explain to them
that the rubbish was tied into a big black
nylon bag, as recommended by ESWAMA, and
neatly dumped proved abortive," said one of
the residents.
The resident, Obinna Madukwe, said the
ESWAMA men hit the deceased harder when
he refused being taken away in a commercial
bus.
According to Madukwe, the noise attracted
some other people to the scene who
continued to plead with them.
He said, "Instead of listening to our pleas,
they threatened to arrest us and chased us
away."
Mother of the deceased, Mrs. Catherine Edeh,
said she went to the dumpsite having waited
endlessly for her son to return home.
Catherine told our correspondent that she
pleaded with the ESWAMA agents, adding that
they threatened to beat her if she didn't steer
clear.
She said she left to look for money to bail her
son, but returned to meet the place deserted.
Catherine said, "A tricycle man brought me
back there and we couldn't find anyone,
except for someone who laid by the centre of
the road, just inches away from the dumpsite.
"I initially took the person for a mad man and
we were about leaving when I noticed blood
gushing out from the body, and then
something made me to look properly. Lo and
behold, it was my son – almost dead.
"He had been beaten to stupor and at that
point, the only wise thing to do was to take
him to a hospital in Abakpa.
"Had I known, I would have gone to throw
away the rubbish myself. It's just that it was
about 6.30am and I was preparing to go to
the market and his younger brother was busy.
"He was to return to Ngwo to continue with
his SSCE exams and now he is no more."
Our correspondent visited the hospital –
Ogechukwu Hospital – where the doctor on
duty disclosed that Chidiebere died from
internal bleeding.
The doctor, who pleaded anonymity, said, "He
had a damaged brain and suffered deep
wounds at his back and the rear of his head.
His eyes popped out, the right leg was shifted
and swollen."
When contacted, the Managing Director of
ESWAMA, Mr. Don Okonkwo, declined
comments.
Other members of staff of the agency also
refused commenting, saying they had been
warned against talking to the press on the
matter.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere
Amaraizu, confirmed the incident.
"Investigations into the incident have
commenced to ascertain what actually
transpired," Amaraizu said.
Meanwhile, the International Solidarity for
Peace and Human Rights Initiative has
demanded justice in the murder of Chidiebere
by officials of ESWAMA.
President of the group, Mr. Osmond Ugwu,
said the probe should not be cumbersome as
those involved were known to ESWAMA
management.
He said, "The management knows very well
those in charge of Enugu East Local
Government Area, while those in Enugu East in
turn know who they sent out on duty at such
place, date and time.
"If ESWAMA management failed to produce
them under the guise that they didn't know
them, it means that members of public are in
danger and should be encouraged not to
honour any ESWAMA agent."
Ugwu urged the commissioner of police to
prevail on ESWAMA management and police
officers assigned to ESWAMA to produce the
killers of Chidiebere and prosecute them in
accordance with the law.
He insisted that ESWAMA authority should pay
the necessary compensation to the family for
the loss.
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