Ikechukwu Anigbo, 32, a barber, was reportedly killed and burnt around a popular relaxation centre at the old London Lane, in Apo, Abuja, over the weekend. Daily Trust reports that a quarrel had ensued between the deceased who hails from Aku in Enugu State and a motorcyclist over a N10.
The motorcyclist allegedly insisted his money is N60 instead of N50. It was alleged that during the argument, the motorcyclist attracted his colleagues to the scene by shouting “thief”. They gathered, collected tyres from a vulcanising workshop near the scene and set the deceased on fire.
Ezema Virginus Chukwudike, the taskforce chairman of Abuja Spare Parts Dealers Association, Apo, lamented the excesses of motorcyclists in satellite towns within the territory and the need to be curbed. He said: “When news of the incident spread, people became angry.
They wondered why the motorcyclists would burn an innocent man. Even the man who volunteered to carry the corpse after he had been killed, was chased away. This is not the first time that motorcyclists are killing someone over a paltry sum of money.
A similar thing happened in Kabusa, when a boy was stabbed because of change. Another man was killed on Wumba road. The same change issue led to the death of a man in Damagaza. In his case, after he was killed, they kept him near a river until the next day.”
The spokesperson of the FCT police command, ASP Anjuguri Manzah said there are several versions of the incident. While some insist that the late Anigbo did not commit any crime, some alleged that he attempted to snatch the motorcycle but was overpowered by the motorcyclists.
He however said a thorough investigation is ongoing to give a clearer picture of what actually transpired. The taskforce chairman said government should stop motorcyclists from arming themselves with daggers. “Why should government allow them to move around with daggers unchallenged?” he asked.