MATCHING GROUND PAYMENT: Community Chief Allegedly Brutalizes Wood Seller . . . I Attacked Him On Self Defence – Chief Okuru
2 min read
by A wood seller has allegedly been brutalized by one Chief Lawrence Okuru.
The brutalized businessman, Daniel Sunday, who said the incident took place at Nembe waterfront, Bonny Jetty at Old Port Harcourt Township, Rivers State, has cried out for justice.
In his words; “What happened on September 8th, 2022 around 9pm when I was going to waterside to carry my wood to give customers, Chief Okuru met me at Nembe water front, Bonny Jetty that I should pay ‘matching ground.’ I told him to give me sometime that I will pay. He said no, that he wants to collect the ‘matching ground’ money now.
“As I was walking, he hit me on the ground and brutalized me, I did not know myself until later when I knew myself, I was in the hospital .
“They asked me, I explained to Borokiri Police Station what happened. Nobody took action until today. That is why I am calling on the Police to arrest the man. My N2.5million also got missing in the process”.
Our correspondent reports that Mr Sunday has a swollen face with bruises on his face.
Reacting to the allegations, Chief Okuru explained that; “It was Mrl Sunday that attacked me first, when I went to ask him what was the cause of the problem as he (Sunday) was having issues with some community youth over payment for illegal bunkering products.
He alleged that Mr Sunday deals on illegal bunkering products and not woods as the said Sunday claimed.
Continuing his explanation, he said: “Mr Sunday punched me and I responded in self defence and there was no other person that fought with Mr Sunday except me.”
,Meanwhile, Lawyers Watch for Justice International Initiative (LAWJII) in a petition addressed to Commissioner of Police, dated October 5th and signed by Tom Nwoke, Esq, called on the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to intervene with a view to bringing the culprit to book.
Efforts to get the reaction of the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police command, SP Grace Iringe Koko was yet to respond to text messages sent by our Correspondent to her mobile phone.
