A 19 year-old Precious Mathew, has allegedly been killed by men of the Abia State Vigilante, Asa Amato Unit in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State.
Late Precious was on Tuesday, April 13, allegedly tied up and beaten up by the vigilante with a two by two plank wood until he lost consciousness.
AF-NEWS on Friday, visited the family of the deceased who are indigenes of Isiala Mbano in Imo State.
According to the mother of the deceased, Mrs Ogechi Mathew, late Precious went for a wake-keep where he was accused by one alias Ika- baby of stealing his phone.
“Precious came home and told me that he was accused by Ika-baby of stealing his phone.
” I encouraged him to go and report himself to the Vigilante because I know my son cannot steal.
” The Vigilante held him, and were beating him up. They didn’t allow him to call me on phone. They tied his legs and hands.
” It was Onyebuchi who brought precious home. His eyes were closed, he couldn’t talk, he couldn’t stand.
” We took him to Amazing Grace hospital. The doctor told us that it was 50/50 for him to survive” Mrs Mathew bitterly recalled.
She alleged that Ika-baby paid N7,000 to the Vigilante to torture Precious.
In his narration, the younger brother of the deceased, Onyekachi Mathew said;
” I was inside the house when Onyebuchi brought my elder brother home. He was unconscious. He said it was the vigilante that beat him up.
” I called my father and mother. I bathed my brother and gave him tea but he couldn’t drink it.
” We took him to the hospital on Wednesday but he died around 9:42pm”.
AF-NEWS made attempt to reach Onyebuchi at his house and the barbing Salon where he serves as an apprentice but all efforts were in vain.
Our correspondent spoke with Miracle Christian, who is Onyebuchi’s boss, and one of the five drummers who attended the wake-keep.
” I, Precious, Onyebuchi, Chidiebere, and Ika-baby, went for a wake-keep.
” The person that died is the father of Precious’ friend. We don’t usually go with Ika-baby, it was Chidiebere who invited him and I was not happy about that.
“In the morning around 6am, when everybody had left, it was remaining the drummers and the DJ, Ika-baby woke up and started shouting that he was looking for his phone, the phone is not even a good phone.
” Everybody was blaming him on why he should keep his phone carelessly in a wake-keep.
“Suddenly, he said it was Precious who stole the phone.
” I can tell you that it was not Precious who took that phone. Maybe another person took it or it fell off because Ika-baby had that phone in his pocket and was running around that night.”
According to Miracle, Ika-baby came to the barbing Salon claiming that he had gone to a native doctor who confirmed his suspicion.
” They took Precious to the native doctor’s house before taking him to the Vigilante.
” The head of the vigilante went ahead to tie Precious’ hands and legs, beating him with a two by two plank even after he confirmed that the native doctor doesn’t know what he is doing.”
On if Onyebuchi is on the run, Miracle said; ” Onyebuchi is not on the run. I saw him yesterday but he has not come to the shop today because my generator is with the mechanic, but he is supposed to come in the evening”.
Mr Raymond Mathew, father of the deceased who was not on ground as at the time AF-NEWS arrived, spoke to our correspondent on phone;
” I have reported to the Human Rights Division of the Area Command Aba, and they promised to look into the matter.”
Speaking to Eze Dennis Nwaoru, Ugwu 1 of Ugwunambakala autonomous Community, he said;
” We have three Autonomous Communities, I am the Eze of Ugwunambakala.
“Where the vigilante is based is in Umudiato although their king is sick.
” It was this morning that the mother of the deceased came to my palace weeping that her son was killed.
” I asked her to go home and allow her husband come.
” I gave the husband an appointment by 4pm today, if he comes, we can look into the matter and know how to help” Eze Nwaoru said.
Efforts made to speak with Umudiato Community’s Prime minister and the King, Eze N. Ahunanya of Asa Umudiato, proved abortive as the king went for medical treatment.
Since the incident, men of the Asa Amato vigilante disappeared from their stand.
AF-NEWS visited the vigilante’s office, and met it under lock and keys.
The family of the deceased called on relevant authorities to come to their aid and ensure justice is served for late Precious.
They however believe that the Vigilante men treated Precious the way they did to please their brother Ika-baby because Precious is not an indigene.
