The Nwachinyere of Lagos, High Chief Nnaemeka Obiekwe has said, policemen chased his 27-year-old son, Chigozie Promise to his death in Oshodi area of the state.
High Chief Obiekwe, who is the Managing Director of Nna motors organisation and a father of five children, said the sad incident happened on April 11 when his son was going to work.
He said Chigozie boarded a commercial motorcycle from Oshodi that morning and was heading to his office when some police officers started chasing commercial motorcyclists in the area, including the one conveying his son to his destination.
The distraught father said the motorcyclist conveying his son turned back and started driving against traffic towards Oshodi in order to escape arrest.
Obiekwe said in the process of manoeuvring on the expressway, they were hit by a speeding truck; Chigozie fell and was crushed to death by the truck.
High Chief Obiekwe said the plans of his son to further his study abroad were cut short by the misfortune.
He said,
“My son just died like that. He was working at Guinness Breweries in Ogba. He was going to work. The boy is a graduate. He’s a good boy. He finished from Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH). He had Higher National Diploma (HND) in Hospitality. It’s a painful departure because he’s my first son. It pains me that things are going the other way round in this country.”
The distraught father urged the government to train security agencies on how to arrest offenders without causing their death in the process.
“Chasing Okada riders on the road is not in tandem with modern way of securing the state. It happens in many places especially all these Task Force men chasing Okada riders in order to impound their motorcycles. They should realise that people are struggling to make a living. There is poverty and hunger in the land. People want to survive.
“They can fashion way out if they don’t want Okada on the road again. Let them withdraw their particulars or ban them totally. That will be better than to be chasing Okada on the motion or rounding them up dangerously.
“My own son has died. Who knows who the next victim could be? The media should help to educate the police on how things are done in advanced countries.”
High Chief Obiekwe further lamented that his hope on the late Chigozie has been dashed.
“He was a humble person. He is my hope. I’m looking forward that he would take care of me at old age, but see what our policemen done to me. It’s a very painful situation. He wanted to further his education overseas. I don’t even know what to say more. He’s minus one from the people that have great prospects for Nigeria in the future. He’s minus one in whatever I will be in the future. He’s minus one in whatever my family will be in the future.”
