By Idahosa Musa
Wife of a victim of gun shooting arising from a protest by suspected internet fraudsters in Benin City, Mrs. Benedicta Akoda, has cried out and begged Nigerians to prevail on the Police to save her husband who was allegedly chained to bed as a suspect at the hospital where he is being treated, an unconfirmed source told Alltimepost.com.
Alltimepost.com gathered that hell was let loose on Tuesday morning when the irate youths took to the street in Isiohor Community, situated along the ever-busy Benin-Ugbowo-Lagos Expressway, Ovia North-East Local Government Area in Edo State, resulting in the shooting of a 40-year-old tricycle spare parts dealer, identified as Mr. Lucky Akoda and a police officer.
Akoda, whose shop is located at the scene of the protest was reportedly hit by a stray bullet allegedly fired by one of the officers at the scene, prompting the rampaging protesters to attack the police.
According to a source, the irate youths had embarked on a protest over alleged security agencies harassment and intimidation in their locality.
The source said that trouble started when some police officers and officials of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) raided the locality on Monday night.
He said that the protesters, mainly young boys, took to the streets on Tuesday and caused tension in the area, leading to police intervention and sporadic shootings.
According to the source, the youths went berserk and destroyed a vehicle belonging to the security agent.
He said that the tricycle spare part dealer who according to him opened for business on Tuesday morning was hit by a stray bullet while attempting to lock up his store, apparently to run for safety.
The source disclosed that the two victims, Akoda, and the police officer whose name could not be ascertain as at the time of this report, were rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for medical attention.
However, the wife of the tricycle spare parts dealer, Mrs. Benedicta Akoda, was informed that her husband was rushed to UBTH after a stray bullet hit him.
The source told Alltimepost.com that when Benedicta, the victim’s wife, visited her husband at the hospital, the Police had chained/handcuffed him to his sick bed, apparently as a suspect following the protest.
He lamented that it was unfair for a man who was hit by stray bullet and taken to the hospital by good Samaritan to be arrested while being saved by doctors at the UBTH.
The source further said: “The man who was hit by stray bullet is now being held on his hospital bed where he is receiving medical attention over a protest, he had no knowledge about.
“His wife, Benedicta, has been pleading with the police and Nigerians to save her husband from dying.
“The man is a good Nigerian doing his legitimate business as a tricycle spare dealer in the locality.
“He is not into internet fraud popularly called “Yahoo” or involved in the protest by the youths.”
Alltimepost.com reports that the Tuesday protest caused a serious traffic gridlock on the Ugbowo- Benin- Lagos Road thereby leaving road users and other motorists stranded for hours.
As at press time, Edo Police could not be reached to confirm the incident, calls and text messages to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Moses Yamu were unanswered.
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