Aba, Sept. 13, 2021
By Ijendu Iheaka
Mr Okeugo Ugonna, a refuse disposal agent for Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) on Sunday evening allegedly killed one Master Daniel Ogbonna in Aba close to a receptacle.
An eyewitnesses, who although close to Ogbonna, did not want his name printed, said he Ogbonna is a native of Amaogwugwu Village, Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia and was just 17 years.
The incident happened near an ASEPA receptacle on Jubillee Road by Asa Road junction at about 5 : 30 pm Sunday when the young Ogbonna went to dispose refuse at the place.
This site learnt that Ogbonna, who resides at No 36 St. Michael's Road, Aba was killed allegedly by the suspect for disposing his refuse at the base of the receptacle because it was filled.
Aba residents have asked for more receptacles several times to aid proper disposal of their refuse but the call had not been heeded although the residents pay ASEPA fees at homes, offices and markets.
The short supply of receptacles for many years now in Aba had contributed to the culture of residents dumping refuse at the base of filled receptacles in the city.
The eyewitness said that the receptacles had been filled before Ogbonna got there and because that one was the only receptacle serving a large population, he did what he had to do.
“I came to Jubilee Road near the place to pick my motorcycle from a mechanic workshop when I saw the ASEPA man, called Biggy, in charge of that bucket ordering one of his men to run after the boy who just poured refuse there and left.
“The man who Biggy sent to get the boy ran after him although the boy wasn't running because he never knew they were after him.
"Suddenly I saw him dragging the boy along. The next thing I saw was a heavy blow that landed the boy on the asphalted road. The boy rose and fell flat without moving again.
"On seeing what he had done, the ASEPA agent tried running away before some Jubilee Road boys caught him and handed him over to Aba Central Police Station.
On seeing what had happened, Biggy ran away too. I'm sure the police will be after him now”, he said.
A reliable Police source at the Aba Central Police Station told our Correspondent that, Okeugo Ugonna who hails from Ekeakpara Community in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia is currently in police net.
The source also said that the Police is now searching for Biggy to come and explain his role in the gruesome murder of Ogbonna.
When contacted, the Deputy General Manager, ASEPA, Aba Zone, Mr Rowland Nwakamma said he was not aware of such incident and promised to reach out to his staff in the area to get more details.
"But we did not send anybody to beat residents. If that had been our operational style, we would have killed many people. I did not send anybody to beat or kill people.
"I wonder also if the person that you said killed the 17 year old boy is my staff because my staff closed earlier by 4 pm yesterday because of the IPOB sit-at-home.
"I have not received such a report but now that you have given me this information, I will get in touch with my staff to know what happened”, he said.
Abia PPRO, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, when contacted, said he was not aware of the case but added “if you say that the suspect is now in Police custody, investigations will now follow”.
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