Sad end: 24-yr-old boy drugged to death by friend on birthday 

Sad end: 24-yr-old boy drugged to death by friend on birthday

 A  twenty-four year old man  identified as Chinedu Hope who is also a student of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Ebonyi State, has been allegedly drugged to death in Agbo Ibeku Umuahia North LGA by his friend on his birthday.

  This happened barely a one week after the death of a young cadet officer in a swimming pool in a hotel in Umuahia.

Our reporter gathered that the deceased  followed his friend, simply  known as Dan after much persuasion to a hideout suspected to be a place were drugs are sold and operated by a drug barron, known  as Yoko in Umuododo Ibeku.

Narrating the incident, the mother of late Chinedu, Mrs Stella Ogbonna, said his son followed his friends Dan to the bunk where drugs are sold and since he does not take hard drug decided to wait for him inside the Keke they came with while Dan on the other hand, went inside the bunk.

The mother  noted that after waiting for too long, he decided to go into the place to call out Dan.

In her words, “When Chinedu went inside, Yoko, Chisom, Chibueze, Celestine as well as Enyinnaya (from Umuodudu) were all in the bunk. When Chinedu got inside, Yoko (the operator, owner of the bunk) said that whoever steps into the bunk, must partake in what they are taking. But Chinedu doesn’t take ice, (otherwise known as methamphetamine or mkpurummiri) or jiko and he told Yoko he wouldn’t take.

“It was at that time that Yoko ordered them to tie Chinedu with rope. Dan assisted them to tie him, both hands and legs, threw him on the ground ; then they mixed ice (methamphetamine) and jiko, used spoon to open his mouth and poured the mixed substance into his mouth, while hitting him with hammer to make him to swallow it.

“After he has swallowed all of the mixed substance, they took him to where they had dugged a pit and threw him into the pit. He was struggling inside the pit with the rope tied both hands and legs while he kept shouting my stomach, my stomach,” Mrs Ogbonna narrated.

“When they found out that Chinedu was struggling for breath, one of the people at the bunk picked up his phone and called a young man identified simply as Aham, and told him what had happened.

“It was Aham that rushed my son to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

“I gave birth to Chinedu on April 18, 2001, yesterday Thursday was his 24th birthday. Dan celebrated his friend’s birthday with ice,” the distressed Mother cried out

Speaking also, the father of the deceased, Hope Oluoha Israel, regretted that the family had gone to pay for the pride price of the supposed wife, on Wednesday, the dey before the incident.

He appealed to the State government and security agencies to do thorough investigation into the matter and bring all the culprits to book.

Contributing, the twin sister of the deceased, Favour Hope described her relationship with her twin brother as very cordial reiterated that as her twin brother, Chinedu never hid anything from her.

She maintained that Chinedu does not smoke nor take hard drugs and do not also keep friends except Dan, who is well known to them as a family friend.

The deceased has been deposited at the mortuary while his friend,  Dan has been arrested.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Umuaha, ASP Maureen Chinaka said she has not been briefed on the incident while promising to make inquiry over the matter

End