WE NEED JUSTICE FOR MY LATE SON – Father of Man Killed by Anioma Security Watch Network
My Husband Never Stole – Wife
God Will Surely Give Us Justice -Mother
The father of late Mr. Joe Philip, a 29-year-old young man, who was killed by members of Anioma Security Watch Network in Agbor, in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, on Sunday June 16, 2024, over a missing phone, Mr. Philip Ebokwu, from Ekuku-Agbor, has cried out for justice over the unjust killing of his son.
Mr. Ebokwu made the statement while speaking with Ika Weekly Newspaper reporter on Thursday June 20, 2024, at his house in Agbor, said he will never allow the death of his son to be swept under the carpet.
Narrating the circumstances that led to the untimely death of his son, Mr. Philip Ebokwu said on that fateful Sunday June 16, 2024, a woman from the neighborhood, whom he knows as Madam Maureen, came to his house to charge her phone.
He disclosed that it was not the first time the woman had come to charge her phone in his house.
Mr. Ebokwu affirmed that when the woman came back to collect her phone and could not find it, she raised alarm and accused his son, Joe of stealing her phone, noting that all efforts to calm and settle the issue peacefully with the woman were futile as she refused to listen to anyone.
In his words, “When the phone was not found, I called the woman to come so that we can peacefully resolve the issue; I told her that If after searching for the phone and cannot find it, then we can replace it for her with a new one, but she refused”.
I never knew she had another plan in mind; my son was returning from the church that Sunday morning when the woman, her manfriend, Mr. Ben who hails from Kogi State, and members of Anioma Security Watch Network gripped my son along the road and took him to their office; I went to their office and appealed to them to resolve the issue amicably, but they declined; They seized my phone, and ID cards; They tied me and started beating me along with my son; The beating was so severe that my son died in the process; When they noticed that my son had passed on, they loosened the rope used in tying me and took to their heels.
“My sisters and some of my vigilante members came and saw the lifeless body of my son; It was after they killed my son that the son of the woman brought back the phone and gave it to his mother, saying that he was the one who took it while Joe was sleeping”.
“I am appealing to the government to help and give me justice as the death of my son cannot be in vain; They beat my son to death because I am poor, they killed my son in my present and ran away” he lamented.
“Those members of Anioma Security Watch Network who killed my son in my presence are, Omekanayor, Lucky, Ogbe, Tallest, and their Vice Chairman; They ran away after killing my son”, he said.
Mr. Philip Ebokwu, who hails from Ekuku-Agbor, said the deceased was his second son, describing him as hard-working boy who was loved by many, including his colleagues at the plant shade where he worked before members of Anioma Security Watch Network killed him.
Also speaking with our Correspondent, the wife of the deceased, Joy Philip said the death of her husband is still shocking, saying that when she heard the news of her husband’s death, she was heartbroken and speechless.
She added that her husband had never taken anything that does not belong to him, saying that she is still in shock and confused.
On her part, the younger sister of the deceased, Victory Philip expressed sadness over the killing of her elder brother, appealing to the government, concerned individuals, groups and authorities to give them justice.
She reiterated that her brother was taken by members of Anioma Security Watch Network and murdered him in their office, noting that the planned killing of her brother is a big blow to the entire family.
Also speaking, the mother of the deceased, Madam Augustina Osagie who spoke with Ika Weekly Newspaper reporter from Igbanke, Edo State, lamented the killing of her son, saying that those who connived and murdered her son will meet their waterloo.
She noted that they killed her son because they think she does not have the power to fight back, neither does she have anyone behind her to help her, hinting that God will surely give her justice.
Mrs. Osagie affirmed that her late son, Joe Philip, was a simple and easy-going young man who never quarreled or fought with anyone when he was alive.
She appealed to the government and relevant authorities to her see that all who connived to kill her son are brought to book.