A staunch supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Mr. Chidiebere Njoku, was killed on Fridaynight in Abuja by a hit-and-run vehicle outside of a popular night club in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The AUTHORITY gathered that Njoku, who was popularly called Rasta by friends and political associates, was part of the Imo PDP delegation to last weekend’s non-elective national convention in the nation’s capital.
A source revealed that after the convention, Njoku had, in the company of friends, went to unwind at the night club (name withheld).
The source said that, “Rasta was dancing with friends well into the night. At some point he excused himself. His friends made light of his exit, since most of them had taken turns to go and ease themselves outside.
“After some time, when Rasta’s friends noticed he had taken longer than necessary, they went searching for him. It was at this point that they saw him by the roadside, badly bruised and in a pool of blood.
“The immediate suspicion was that he must have been crushed by a hit-and-run driver. Still conscious, Rasta’s friends reportedly hurled him into a car, rushed him to a nearby private hospital. The hospital apparently didn’t have the capacity to handle such an emergency and so, Rasta gave up the ghost there,” the source said, adding that, “we have deposited his body in the mortuary.”
Njoku’s tragic end has reportedly devastated the Imo PDP delegation. A party official described his death as “a tragedy that marred what otherwise was a most joyous national convention.”
A graduate of the Lagos State University, Njoku who hailed from Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo State, loved football. He died exactly two weeks to his 33rd birthday.
One of his friends said: “We had all looked forward to making merriment inside the Eagle Square. Njoku was so full of life. He was very excited at what he considered PDP’s rebounce. Little did we know that he was going to end so tragically in a few hours after. It is so sad!”
The FCT Police Command spokesman, Mr. Anjuguri Manzah, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said that he was yet to be briefed on the incident.
Meanwhile, the Imo State chapter of the party has ruled out the possibility of an assassination, maintaining that Njoku’s death was purely an accident.
The state PDP spokesman, Mr. Damian Opara said that Njoku’s death could not have political undertones since he was killed by a fast-moving vehicle.
Opara confirmed that Njoku voted at the party non-elective convention and went to a night club with friends thereafter.
“How can anybody say his death was politically motivated? Did anybody push him to the vehicle? He just went for a nice time in the club,” Opara said.