…eyewitnesses reveal cause of dead
By Chucks Nwonye
Port Harcourt was thrown into fear on Saturday after the body of a man was discovered by the roadside near the Obiri-Ikwerre Flyover along the East-West Road, sparking fresh calls for urgent security intervention in Rivers State.
The incident occurred in the afternoon and quickly drew a crowd of motorists, traders and residents who gathered to watch as rain fell heavily on the area.
According to an eyewitness at the scene, the victim was allegedly forced out of his black Toyota Venza by unknown assailants who stopped him along the flyover. The witness claimed the men made the man drink an unidentified liquid before he collapsed.
“He was struggling and shouting for help,” the eyewitness said.
“Before we could get close, the people pushed him down and poured something into his mouth. He fell and did not get up again. Then they left in a hurry.”
Residents said they immediately alerted a police patrol team that was operating around the area. Despite the report, the corpse remained at the scene as of 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, covered only by the downpour and curious onlookers who kept their distance.
The delay in evacuating the body heightened frustration among community members, many of whom questioned the response time of security agencies. Traffic along the East-West Road slowed for hours as people stopped to take pictures and share videos of the scene on social media.
By evening, community leaders in Obiri-Ikwerre and surrounding neighborhoods had issued statements condemning the killing and urging the Rivers State Government and security agencies to act decisively.
“This is becoming too frequent,” said a resident who gave his name only as Chinedu.
“We cannot continue to live in fear on our own roads. If someone can be pulled out of his car in broad daylight and killed like this, then nowhere is safe.”
Another community member called on the state government to increase police visibility around major flyovers and highways, especially in the evenings when criminal activity has spiked in recent months.
The Rivers State Police Command has not released an official statement on the incident as of press time.
A senior officer at a nearby station, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak, confirmed that officers were dispatched to the area but said investigations were ongoing to identify the deceased and track the perpetrators.
Concerned residents have hinted that the East-West Road and its interchanges have recorded several cases of robbery, kidnapping and assault in the past year. They had earlier repeatedly complained about poor lighting, lack of CCTV coverage and slow emergency response around the Obiri-Ikwerre Flyover.
The latest killing has been described as “barbaric” by inhabitants of the area, demanding that the government provide better protection for commuters.
As of Sunday morning, the body had been evacuated from the scene, but the identity of the victim had not been made public. Police say they are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby businesses and working with road safety officials to trace the Toyota Venza.
For now, the mood in Port Harcourt remains tense. Traders near the flyover reported low turnout on Saturday evening, and many drivers said they would avoid the route after dark until they are assured of better security.
The state government is yet to comment, but pressure is mounting for concrete steps to restore confidence on Rivers roads.
