By Nkechinyere Ewa
A 20-year-old commercial motorcycle operator, Ezekiel Eluu Egwu, has been killed by yet-to-be-identified assailants in Ebonyi State, sparking outrage and fear among residents of Afikpo.
The incident reportedly occurred in the evening near the Mountain of Fire Church in the Low Cost area of Afikpo, within Afikpo Local Government Area.
The deceased, said to be from Ezi Agbo Amaokwu Amangbala, near the Ebonyi State Transport Company (EBOTRANS) park, was operating a motorcycle on a hire-purchase arrangement for a fashion designer based in Ugwuegu community, along Holy Child Secondary School.
A resident, Mr. Okoro Augustine, told Daily Sun that the circumstances surrounding Egwu’s death remain unclear, with several unanswered questions troubling the community.
According to him, the victim’s elder brother recounted the incident during a village meeting held at Ogo Amangwu Amangbala playground. He said a fellow motorcycle operator had earlier seen the deceased along Mater Hospital Road and was asked to follow someone, only to later be shown Egwu’s lifeless body with severe injuries.
Community leaders, including the Chairman of Amangbala Development Union and the Youth President, reportedly intervened upon learning that the victim’s body had been deposited at a mortuary without the family’s knowledge.
“The Divisional Police Officer told the community leaders that officers moved the body to the morgue after receiving a distress call from a woman who heard suspicious sounds indicating danger,” Augustine said.
Suspicion initially fell on the owner of the motorcycle, who hails from Ugwuegu and is also the victim’s employer, after reports indicated he was at the police station with the bike. However, police sources clarified that he was invited after officers identified the victim through his clothing and contacted him.
The resident further disclosed that the motorcycle owner had only recently been released from police custody over a separate murder allegation, a development that has heightened tension and speculation within the community.
Residents also raised concerns over the nature of the killing, noting that the victim’s motorcycle and money were not taken—casting doubt on robbery as a motive.
The incident comes amid reports of a similar case last month in which a motorcycle rider was allegedly beaten to death by a group of youths over accusations of theft.
“These incidents may be coincidental, but we cannot ignore the pattern. People are now living in fear and asking who might be next,” Augustine added, calling on security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
When contacted, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said he had yet to receive an official report on the incident but assured that he would reach out to the Divisional Police Officer in Afikpo for further details.
The killing of the young rider has since stirred grief across the community, with residents describing him as a hardworking youth striving to make a living.