By Patrick Ochei
Family and friends of late GodsGlory Ugochukwu Onyewadume, who was gruesomely murdered as a POS Operator by yet to be identified armed robber on Friday, February 3, 2023, protested his killing at the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Delta State Council, in Asaba the state capital.
During the peaceful protest, they called on the watchdogs of the society to intervene over the alleged fruitless investigation of the Police and help to draw attention to the case for the purpose of getting justice.
In an emotion-laden voice, late Glory’s Talent Developer and CEO of Kiddies Carnival Nigeria, Mrs Valerie Opia a.k.a Valerie of Africa, said Glory was like a son, revealing how he was gruesomely murdered on December 21, 2022, while attending to a supposed customer who lured him into an uncompleted building close to his POS stand along Asaba-Ibusa Road.
Opia who recounted the statement of late Glory’s friend and main suspect, Emeka Okeke, said after being stabbed in the chest in an apparent attempt to snatch his bag of money and phones, the boy struggled and crawled to the road where he received help to Okwe General Hospital.
However, according to the testimony, the hospital doctors and nurses allegedly felt unconcerned about the emergency status of Glory until he passed on after about an hour of lying helplessly for attention.
Late Glory’s father who hails from Onicha-Olona community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, Chaplain Israel Onyewadume, lamented the nonchalant attitude of government hospitals, lack of diligent investigation on the part of security agencies and of course, the uncaring posture of government towards the security of young ones making efforts to help themselves in the society, especially POS operators; insisting however, that should his son had gotten the needed medical attention, he wouldn’t have died.
He acknowledged the fact that no amount of tears or protest would bring back his son; therefore, affirming that he endorsed the protest in order to draw the attention of government to the needless deaths of promising youths in society.
Addressing the protesting family members and friends of the late Glory Onyewadume, the Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu sympathised with the bereaved, assuring them that the union would join them in fighting for justice over the mindless killing of the young Glory.
Appealing to them to remain calm and lawfully organised while seeking justice, he called on the Police to thoroughly investigate the murder with a view to unravelling the cause of death and bringing the culprit to book.
From information gathered, the 19-year-old Glory Onyewadume was stabbed in the chest at about 12 noon on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, while attending to a supposed customer suspected to be the culprit in an uncompleted building.
From the account of Glory’s friend who does menial job around the vicinity and also as an eye witness who helped in taking him to the hospital; the suspect earlier came to the POS stand apparently to make withdrawals which he never did, and later beckoned on the deceased to come into the building to attend to him.
Just about this time, Glory’s friend, Emeka Okeke was said to have gone to buy food but on coming back, could not find his friend at his POS Stand, but instead, sighted the suspect running barefooted out of the building.
It was later that he discovered his friend (deceased) in a pool of his own blood before he was taken to the hospital.
Unfortunately, he (Glory) was alleged to have died before being attended to after an hour in Okwe General Hospital.
Some suspects including Glory’s friend, Emeka Okeke were arrested and later released by the Police for want of evidence against them, but not until they had handsomely fulfilled their bail obligations.
Until Friday 3rd February when the family and friends sought an audience with the Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Mohammed Ali; he was not aware of the case, not until the Homicide Section came to brief him and claimed that investigation was still ongoing.
However, the Police Chief had to plead with the black-kitted family and friends to shelve the protest to avoid being hijacked by hoodlums to cause mayhem in society in the midst of naira and fuel crisis.
They eventually came to the NUJ Press Centre to vent their grief and pains to the fourth estate of the realm.
The Late Glory Onyewadume would be buried on Saturday (today) in his father’s land by the Immigration Service, along Ibusa road, according to Police clearance.
He was a lovely and highly talented young boy, who was gifted in singing of Gospel music.
His father lovingly refers to him as “My Utility Child”, being the last in the house and always working hard to meet up his obligation to his education and family.
Before he was engaged in the POS business, he had written and awaiting his UTME result. In fact, his admission into the university came just two weeks after his murder.
The late Glory Onyewadume was the winner of the Delta State Kids and Teens Talent Hunt Competition, 2020, Season 1, in addition to being a great asset to most Talent Development managers in town and having featured in the In-Gathering and Youth Foundation, Delta State Talent Development Office, Winners’ Chapel Praise Concert events and more.
He was one of the best students in Blooming Heights Secondary School, Asaba, where he graduated with so much hope of furthering his academic studies and music career, but his life was cut short in its prime by unchecked criminals in our environment.
In a telephone chat with the PPRO, DSP Edafe Bright over the matter, he said he would find out from the O/C Homicide to know the latest development on the case.
However, he alluded to the fact that when the Police do not have a lead to a suspect, it would look as if they are not working.
He, therefore, assured that effort would be intensified on investigation, positing that the suspect would definitely be caught having committed a crime.
