Man murdered by friend over N100 debt in Enugu

isaac

March 25, 2015 10:56 AM

A man in Enugu State has murdered his close friend over a debt of N100 only.

Inspector Generela of Police Suleiman Abba.

One Stephen Eze, an Enugu State based vulcanizer, is in trouble for hacking his friend and business neighbour, Ikenna Anayo Omeje, to death over a debt of N100 owed him by the deceased.

The incident which happened at Orba in Udenu local government area of the state, has thrown the community into a frenzy of mourning as the two of them were said to be great friends who did things together but the disagreement over the debt has shattered whatever union they had.

Another close friend of the duo reported that trouble started when the deceased was said to have decided to build his own shop few metres away from his friend’s workshop.

"Stephen had warned Ikenna several times that he had become arrogant because he had made money to build his own shop and buy a new motorbike.

However, on that fateful morning, Omeje took his motorcycle to the Eze's shop to change its back tube, and was charged N300. He paid N200 and promised to pay the balance of N100 in the evening.

But when Eze left for Nsukka to buy some materials, Omeje went to his workshop and collected the repaired bike and when he returned and was told that Omeje had taken the bike, he sent his apprentice to the deceased’s shop to bring back the motorbike or collect the balance of the money.

The apprentice went and delivered his master’s message but Omeje told him that he had resolved to pay his master in the evening. This didn’t go down well with the boy, as he decided to roll back the motorbike to their workshop.

The deceased then followed him, and when they got to his workshop, he was said to have asked Eze the reason he asked his boy to collect the motorbike.

It was then a quarrel ensued and the Eze hit him on the head with a rod and he fell and became unconscious."

Eze was said to have fled the scene when he realised that Omeje had lost much blood and was likely to die. Omeje was immediately rushed to Nwaossai Foundation Hospital, Orba, where he died.

However, some youths in the community who were infuriated by the circumstance surrounding the death of Mr Omeje launched a manhunt for the suspect, and was apprehended when he came to collect his two children at Central Primary School, Orba.

The youths descended and beat him to coma, and wanted to set him ablaze, but for the timely arrival of policemen from Orba Police Post.

isaac