By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID), Edo State chapter in partnership with Concerned Government Reservation Area residents, have appealed to the state government to take charge of the welfare of the children left behind by one Mr. Efe Ogbeide, a deaf and dumb, murdered at Obazagbon Community in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.
Efe was said to have been shot at close range at the place where he was supervising a building project at the community.
The Executive Director of NAPVID, Melody Omosah who led other members of the Persons With Disabilities (PWD) on a protest march through major roads in Benin before converging on the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council, said that the killing of Efe, who is the breadwinner of the family has left a huge responsibility on his wife who is also a deaf and dumb.
He said the only way such a burden can be reduced though it can’t bring back the dead, is for the government to give a helping hand to the bereaved family.
“The widow and his children, government should take charge of their welfare and rise to the occasion. This may not be able to replace the death or bring him back to life but we will take solace that at least, these children will still go to school”, Omosah said.
Omosah said, besides taking care of the family, the governor, as the chief security officer of the state, should ensure that the killers of the physically challenged person should be brought to book.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on the Excellence, the governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo to ensure that justice is done in this case. Yes, to ensure that the culprits are brought to book.
“He is the chief security officer of the state. This matter is the primary responsibility of government as guaranteed by our constitution. We are mourning”, Omosah added.
Addressing the protesters, the Chairman, NUJ, Edo State council, Dr. Festus Alenkhe, represented by the secretary of the Union, Mr. Andy Egbon sympathized with the PWD’s family and assured that justice will be served.
“But your coming here today is another dimension to it. That the family and friends have come to ask government to see what can be done to support this family and that those who are responsible should be brought to justice.
“And this is my prayer that they will be caught and they will come out and confess to their sins. And they will pay dearly for the offense they have committed”, Alenkhe said.
Contacting the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu on the killing of the said Efe, he said three suspects have been arrested while investigation was still ongoing.
