over a quarrel about environmental cleanliness, after which he handed
himself over to the police, is alleged to be moving about freely, whereas
his victim, a 29-year-old Obinna Azubuike is nursing his injuries at a
private hospital in Orlu.
The mother of the machete attack victim, Mrs Maryann Azubuike, who is now
suffering depression owing to her son’s condition, stated that she is
surprised after causing such heinous crime, which amounts to attempted
murder or man slaughter, the assailant was let-off the hook by police.
According to an eye witness account, the victim of the machete cut, Obinna
Azubuike, was on that day walking out of their compound, when he heard
people quarreling. It later turned out to be his brother Uzochukwu and
their neighbor’s wife, quarreling over some trash from the neighbor’s
compound into their own and a caution to stop the now regular habit led to
exchange of words.
Obinna hardly stepped to quell the quarrel and calm frayed nerves, when
the woman’s husband, Mr Chika Azubuike came out, armed with a sharp
cutlass, lifted his machete in attempt to cut the neck of the mediator,
Obinna Azubike, who had to obstruct the cut with his left hand and in the
process, lost a finger with a deep cut in his left fore-arm, whereas the
second attempt gave him a deep cut on the fore-head.
Suspecting that his victim was dead, the assailant, ran to Orlu Police
station.
It was further gathered that the victim’s parents, having been notified
came and saw their son in a pool of his blood. They later rushed him to a
nearby Zina hospital at Umuna.
It was reported that for three days, the victim laid unconscious in the
hospital and neither the attacker nor any of his family members visited
the patient, except the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), popularly
known as Isa, who came after the victim had regained consciousness.
Our reporter who visited the hospital, met the victim still writhing in
severe pains with his mother, a petty trader, who narrated how the
hospital management demanded huge sum of money from them which they are
having difficulties to pay.
When contacted, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) handling the matter
directed our correspondent to the Orlu Area office for proper briefing.
On his part, the Area Commander in charge of Orlu, Mr Azuka, told our
correspondent that, justice must prevail and assured he will use his
office to ensure that the culprit is brought to book.
However, according to our reporter who visited the scene of the incident,
at Umusasu Umuna, just a stone throw from the hospital, a source close to
the victim’s family revealed that, following the suspect’s release from
the police station, the suspect had been going about boasting that, even
if the victim dies, nothing will happen to him as far as the police are
concern.