According to eyewitnesses, the unidentified young man, who was hawking beverages around the Bolingo Hotel Bridge in Abuja Central Business District joined others to run for safety on sighting an AEPB official vehicle. The unfortunate boy however fell from the bridge. He was rushed to the National Hospital,Abuja by a police patrol team who happened to be close by but was confirmed dead at the hospital.
However, in the bid to escape, the hawker fell from the bridge and remained unconscious and was rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja by a police patrol team passing by.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria,NAN, one of the hospital staff who refused to disclose his identity reported that the boy was brought in dead.
“The boy was already dead when they brought him here and he has been taken away for burial; I believe he was a Muslim,’’ he said.
When interrogated,Mr Joe Ukairo, AEPB Head of Media and Outreach Programmes, said that officials of the board did not pursue the hawkers.
`Whenever they sight our vehicles they take to their heels and that was what happened in this case.
“Hawking is illegal in the FCT and we urge all residents to obey that law and stop risking their lives unnecessarily,’’ he said.
Some residents of Abuja have condemned officials of AEPB over the incident.
Mr Tony Kanu, a civil servant, advised the board to be more humane in discharging its duties.
“Why should they continue to pursue innocent hawkers who are already on the run when they approach their location?
`This is a very wicked act and I hope government will take steps to ensure that it does not happen again,’’ he said.
Mr Daniel Ogedemgbe, another resident of Abuja, advised government to get alternative source of livelihood for hawkers.
“It is clear that these people take to hawking because they have no alternatives; government should create opportunities for them and stop pursuing them to their deaths,’’ he said.
NAN
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