The wife of a petty trader allegedly killed by enforcement officers of Department of Public Transportation (DOPT) in Calabar, Cross River State capital, Mrs Mary Michael Eyo Essien has cried out for help, lamenting that no government officials has visited them since the incident happened.
“Ever since my husband was killed on Friday, none of the government officials visited me, they have neglected and abandoned me and my four little children,” she lamented.
Late Michael Eyo Essien was allegedly crushed to death by the enforcement officers who packed his goods (Phone accessories and other items) into their vehicle. In an attempt to zoom off, they allegedly crushed the victim to death.
Speaking in an interview at her resident of No 22 Edibe Edibe Street, Calabar, the wife of the victim said her late husband was an indigene of Okurikang in Odukpani local government area of the State.
“He hailed from Okurikang in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State and over thirty years old. We married in Lagos State in 2007, we had 4 children, 4 boys and I am with 4 months pregnancy now.”
Narrating the incident, Mary said, “I was at home when my husband’s sister came to our house and told me that my husband had been crushed to death by DOPT vehicle. The sister said they beat my husband mercilessly and his goods were packed into their vehicle.
“The sister begged them, my husband also begged them and those in the market begged them too but they ignored them. My husband told them that he uses the proceeds from the goods to look after the children.
“That he paid his house rent with the proceeds from the sales of his goods, takes care of his four children and even his wife who is four months pregnant, but they did not mind all these. They impounded his goods and he still begged them. The driver drove the vehicle close to him, crushed him to death and zoomed off,” she wept.
While sobbing heavily, she said, “No government official visited us, nobody from DOPT, the corpse was dumped at the General Hospital, Calabar by the Police on Friday, June 21st when the incident occurred and on Saturday, his brother went to the hospital and paid money before the corpse was dressed and taken inside the mortuary.
“We have four children, Wisdom Michael Eyo Essien, 12-years-old, Promise Michael Eyo Essien, 10 years, Joseph Michael Eyo Essien, 7 years and Joshua Michael Eyo Essien – 2 years. Wisdom was about to start secondary school while I am four months old pregnant,” she stated.
Also speaking, the younger brother to the victim, John Effiong said that they had the same mother but different father. “I am a brother to the deceased; my name is John Effiong and I’m 21, a Keke Driver from Ikono local government area in Akwa Ibom State.
“I was at a mechanic workshop and got a call that I should come to the house. Our sister was with him in the market and when I came to the house, I was told that my senior brother died and that DOPT killed him.
“I went to the Post Office with my brother’s wife, she slumped on the way. We heard different stories, but when I asked my younger sister who was with him, we were told that he was killed by DOPT. My sister went to the market to collect N50 for her transport when DOPT came.
“My sister and my brother begged them, others too begged them but they ignored them. The DOPT workers hijacked his wheelbarrow with his goods into their vehicle but he was still begging them, the driver of the DOPY vehicle now drove towards him and crushed him to death.
“Since then, we have not seen any government officials, nobody from the government came and condoled with the family, the children are crying, nobody cares about them nor visits them, the wife is not working.
“Government should help the family, train the children and pay compensation to the family, the house rents of the victim is expiring very soon, the rent is N3, 000 a month
“He sold phone and its accessories including, phone chargers etc. He was in Lagos doing the same business and we came back in 2017 to Calabar. He his loss his father in 2009 and it’s only our mother that is alive,” he said.
The Director-General (DG) of DOPT, Godwin Nyiam lamented the incident and said he has handed over the suspects, the DOPT driver and two other workers to the Police for further investigation.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo confirmed that the suspects have been arrested and they are in police custody.
