By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
Residents of Karaworo Street in Lokoja, Kogi State, are in a state of panic following the death of a sick man who was dumped in front of a shop several days ago by persons suspected to be his family members.
The deceased, according to sources, was an Igala man who appeared to have been abandoned due to his deteriorating health condition.
Despite several appeals from residents and an earlier report by NationalWatch TV, no action was taken by the concerned authorities until the man finally gave up the ghost.
Speaking to NationalWatch TV, the Chairman of the Shop Owners Association, who declined to appear on camera, narrated how he promptly reported the matter to the local government authority when the man was first dumped.
He said the council officials directed him to the nearest police division, where he met with officers who promised to handle the case.
According to him, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area personally visited the scene and assured that the police would take appropriate action.
“The DPO came and saw the man himself. He promised something would be done, but days passed and nothing happened. Sadly, the man has now died,” the chairman lamented.
Eyewitnesses told this reporter that the deceased had been lying helplessly for days without food or medical care, as residents were afraid to get too close to him for fear of contracting any illness.
They also alleged that the abandoned man occasionally called for water and assistance before his condition worsened.
Now that the man is dead, residents and shop owners are calling on the relevant authorities to urgently evacuate the body and disinfect the area to prevent possible health risks.
They are also appealing to the Ministry of Environment and the State Health Department to respond swiftly before the situation degenerates further.
“We can’t continue to live with a corpse in front of our shops. The smell is becoming unbearable, and we are afraid of an outbreak of disease,” one of the shop owners, who gave his name as Joseph, told NationalWatch TV.
Meanwhile, many business owners have closed their shops and vacated the area for fear of the unknown, while others remain indoors awaiting government intervention.
Residents are also calling on the Kogi State Government and the local government chairman to investigate the identity of the deceased and trace his family members for proper burial.
As of the time of filing this report, the body of the deceased was still lying by the roadside, as passersby continued to express shock and dismay over what they described as government neglect and failure of response from relevant agencies.
Watch Video Here:
