Two Neighbours Arrested In Abuja Over Death Of Teen After Alleged Assault

T The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested two neighbours in connection with the death of a 17-year-old boy, Chidera Benjamin, following an alleged assault in the Byazhin area of Abuja.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the command disclosed that the incident occurred on February 12 at about 11:45 p.m., when the Byazhin Divisional Headquarters received a distress call that the teenager had allegedly inflicted a severe machete injury on his mother during a domestic dispute.

According to Adeh, police officers were immediately deployed to the scene. Preliminary investigations revealed that two neighbours, Cosmos Okafor, 31, and Okechukwu Wisdom, 17, allegedly attacked the teenager in reaction to the incident.

She explained that the confrontation stemmed from allegations that the deceased had been transferring funds from his mother’s bank account into his personal Opay account without her consent. “When his mother confronted him over the unauthorised transactions, he became violent and attacked her with a machete, causing serious injury to her hand,” Adeh stated.

The police spokesperson further disclosed that the two neighbours, who reportedly witnessed the altercation, allegedly descended on the teenager for attacking his mother. He sustained severe injuries during the assault and became unconscious. He was rushed to Kubwa General Hospital, where he was later confirmed dead by medical personnel.

Adeh added that the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, commiserated with the family of the deceased and cautioned residents against taking the law into their own hands.

“Residents are urged to always adopt peaceful and lawful means of resolving disputes and refrain from taking the law into their own hands, as actions taken in moments of anger can result in tragic and irreversible consequences,” she quoted the Commissioner as saying.

The suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.