Ebonyi enmeshed in crisis over the death of Medical Lab Scientist

Medical Laboratory Scientists in Ebonyi State have taken a peaceful protest to the Commissioner, Ebonyi State Police Command over the gruesome murder of one of their colleagues in Abakaliki.

The murder sent shivers down the spines of his colleagues and threw the hospital community and entire city into panic.

Casmir Ani, a Medical Laboratory staff of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, was on Friday night hacked to death by unknown assailants along Ojeawere Street in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

The professionals on Tuesday trooped out enmasse, taking a solemn march to the Police headquarters in Abakaliki to register their fears and solicit the security agency’s unrelenting efforts towards unraveling the murderers and bringing them to book.

The protesters bore placards with various inscriptions such as: Death of Casmir is one death too many; Government must wake up to their responsibility of protecting lives; Scientist Casmir is a father, husband, so, Justice must be given to his family and associates; We demand  for culprits to be brought to book; and This senseless killings must stop.

Presenting their mission to the Police Commissioner, the Publicity Secretary of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Ebonyi State Chapter, Obiefuna Okeke, explained that the death of Casmir has put fears in their hearts.

A letter signed by the Association’s State Chairman, Clement Alobu, and the Secretary, Godwin Nwibo, submitted to the Police Commissioner, entitled: “A Demand for Justice,” dated June 14, 2022, said: “It is with deep emotional pain and bleeding hearts that we, the members of the above-named Association write to inform your office of the gruesome murder of Mr. Casmir Afamefuna Ani who was our member and professional colleague, on the night of Friday, June 10, 2022 around Ojeowere/Brackenbury street area.

“With this ugly development, we no longer feel safe to even do our jobs since one of us could be mowed down so easily without any intervention by the law enforcement agents or even the state vigilante outfit (alias Ebube Agu).”

The group demanded that the matter be taken over by the State Criminal Investigation Department for a more robust investigation, while adequate manpower and logistics should be provided by the Command to ensure that the perpetrators were tracked.

The lab scientists added: “To use your good offices to interface with any relevant sister security agency or organization, our Association inclusive, to get the much-needed justice for the grieving young widow and four little kids of our slain colleague, the youngest being just about 3 weeks old so that they could have some closure knowing that those that cut short the life of their husband/father did not get away with their evil act.”

Addressing the protesters, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, Clement Robert, who represented the Commissioner, Garba Aliyu, said the command was already aware of the incident.

Robert promised that they would do everything possible to get to the bottom of the barbaric act.

He said: “We are aware of that matter, and we are on it.

“We will do everything to ensure that those responsible will be brought to book, and be brought to justice.

“But we need your cooperation and assistance, for we cannot do it alone.

“We need information from you and some tips, and by the grace of God, we will get to the bottom of it.”

Recent killings in Abakaliki have continued to attract concerns from residents.

Recall that few days ago, one Simon Nwede was killed by unknown gunmen who stormed his house in Abofia area, a suburb of Abakaliki.

Nwede was said to be the leader of Ebubeagu civilian security outfit in the area.

Casmir, until his death, was a Principal Medical Laboratory scientist with AE-FUTHA, the immediate past Vice President of AE-FUTHA Staff Welfare Association and Chairman of Enugu State Welfare Association, AE-FUTHA branch.