The family of a 15-year-old boy, Ekene Dike, whose corpse was found floating on a River in Mgbudaiya in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday have faulted claims by the police that the teenager drowned.
Recall that Master Dike’s lifeless body was found by a boat driver floating on the river two days after he was declared missing.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko while confirming the incident to our correspondent said the information available to her was that the adolescent drowned.
But speaking with our correspondent in Port Harcourt on Friday, the father of the deceased, Bartholemew Dike, insisted on an unbiased investigation to ascertain what led to his son’s death.
Mr Dike, also dismissed comments credited to the police that the family was not interested in investigating his demise, saying not only is he interested, but that he wants Justice for his son.
Mr Dike alleged that three persons he identified as Udoh, Elihah, and Chima, had taken his son to the Mgbudaiya River, saying he didn’t know what may have transpired on that fateful day of August 10, 2023.
He explained that his son was a friend of Udoh, one of his neighbour’s children. He alleged that Udoh’s father had threatened to deal with him because he reported him to the landlord for smoking marijuana in their compound in the Mile 2 Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
Mr Dike stated, “I reported to the landlord that Udo’s father smokes Marijuana in our compound, 25 Obidanso Street, Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt, and the landlord cautioned him. But since then he started keeping malice. He frowns his face anytime he sees me and he said he will deal with me.”
He stated further that he had to bury his son at the Mgbudaiya community because the natives refused to allow him to remove the corpse from the riverside, saying their customs demands that his remains be buried at the River bank.
“I reported the matter at the Illabuchi Police Station. They came there and took pictures and videos. Then I tried to carry My boy’s corpse to the mortuary, but the indigenes there told me that I should not remove it because it is against their culture.
“The police were there and heard what the people said that I must bury him there (by the river).
“So what the police said that my son drowned is not true because nobody called to interview me about this case. The three suspects are now in Illabuchi Police Station, “he stated.
He appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi to order a thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of his son.
He said, “I want the CP to investigate this matter very well to help me find out the truth and I need Justice.”
When contacted on the latest development, Iringe-Koko, Superintendent of Police said the claims of Mr Dike would be investigated.
She stated, “I heard what he (Dike) said. We are already investigating his claims and allegations. That is all I can say for now.”
