Youths, under the auspices of Ezza Ezekuna Youth Association, have staged a peaceful protest in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on the death of an All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairman, Ernest Oduu, a lawyer.
Until his death, Oduu was the Chairman of APC in Ezza South Local Government Area.
He reportedly slumped on Saturday in an Enugu hotel, said to belong to a stalwart of the party in Ebonyi State, and confirmed dead at a hospital.
The over 500 youths marched on some streets in Abakaliki before terminating the protest at the Government House.
Addressing reporters, the youths urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the matter and unravel the cause of Oduu’s death.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions like, “IGP, please, investigate the death of our son”; “Ezza youths mourn Ernest”; “We don’t want the death of our brother swept under the carpet” and “The cause of his death must be made public.”
The protesters’ leader Leonard Alegu said the youths were at the Government House to protest the delay by the Enugu State Police Command in unravelling the death.
They urged the Ebonyi State government to liaise with Enugu State police commissioner to begin investigation into the death.
“Since Saturday, August 17, when our brother was said to have slumped and died in a hotel in Enugu, where he attended a political meeting, nothing has been heard about his death. We are worried that the police command in Enugu State has not commenced investigation and we are calling for justice.
“We are here to make a passionate appeal to the Ebonyi State government to please liaise with the Enugu State Police Command, not just to investigate the cause of the death but to also unravel the cause of his death because justice will not be served if the cause of his death is not unravelled.”
The Chief of Staff to the Government House, Ofor Okorie, said the youths’ action showed their high level of maturity and civility.
Ebonyi State Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of Operations, Mr. Tony Olofu, said the command would collaborate with its Enugu State counterpart to probe the death.
He urged them to go back to their businesses and remain law-abiding.