BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A female trader, Ebere Emeokoro, has been arrested by the Ebonyi State Police for allegedly smashing the head of a woman on the floor during a fight over debt owed by the victim’s son and causing her death.
Ebere, a native of Nkalagu community, in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state, who sells animal skin commonly called “Ponmo” had reportedly sold the commodity worth N213,000 to one man, Ikechukwu Mbam,on credit.
When Ikechukwu couldn’t offset his debt, the trader was said to have visited his house, located at Nwofe community, in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state, to request for the payment of the money.
Upon getting to the house last week, the creditor met her customer’s mother, Mrs Agatha Mbam, and expressed displeasure over the inability of her son, Ikechukwu, to offset the debt.
The Point correspondent who visited the area gathered that there was an altercation between the trader and Ikechukwu’s mother over the issue before a fight ensued.
A relation of the deceased Agatha, Mr. Peter Nwinyima, told The Point that Ebere had visited the debtor’s house to demand for her N213,000 from the slain woman’s son but met Agatha.
Nwinyima said Ebere got annoyed and attacked Agatha by smashing her head on the concrete floor in the compound during the fisticuff and inflicted injuries on her skull. He added that the injuries sustained by the victim led to her death.
“When Mrs. Ebere Emeokoro visited the compound, she was pleasantly approached by her debtor, Ikechukwu,who also appealed that more time should be given to him for the payment.
“But, surprisingly, the creditor insisted that the money must be paid and based on her decision, after the young man’s mother had mounted her motorcycle to leave for an errand after much pleading, suddenly, Mrs Emeokoro obstructed her movement with the notion that the deceased would not leave home unless the debt was paid. In the process, Mrs Mbam was pushed on the concrete floor where she sustained injuries that resulted to her death a few days after,” he explained.
In an interview with Ikechukwu, who also sells “ponmo”, he explained that he owed Ebere the sum of N348,000.00 initially but he later paid part of it until the debt remained N213,000. He said the debt couldn’t have resulted in her mother’s death if the ponmo dealer had been patient.
It was learnt that shortly after the incident, Agatha was rushed to a Mission Hospital at Igbeagu community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state from where she was referred to Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Upon arrival, she was confirmed dead by a medical doctor on duty.
The matter was said to have been reported at Izzi Divisional Police Headquarters by Nwinyima, while the suspect was arrested thereafter.
When contacted by our correspondent, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said the matter had not reached her desk at the time our correspondent visited her office.
