Posted by By Emma Emeozor on
The Chinese Consul General in Lagos at the weekend said a 28-year-old Nigerian who died in China on Tuesday fell on a staircase contrary to allegations that Chinese security men killed him.
The Chinese Consul General in Lagos at the weekend said a 28-year-old Nigerian who died in China on Tuesday fell on a staircase contrary to allegations that Chinese security men killed him.
In a follow-up to its response to Daily Sun's query published on Friday, the Consulate General spokesperson Mao Yizong said local authorities in Guangzhou, China have said Ojide John Ekene fell on the staircase of Yulong building as he tried to run to urinate, adding that in the process he got a heavy hit on his head. Mao, however, did not elaborate.
"We have contacted the local authority in Guangzhou and got the report of this case according to the records provided by many parties. The fact is: September 25th, Ojide John Ekene wanted to urinate somewhere inside Yulong building but had been refused by the security men of the company. The two parties quarreled for a while before Ojide chose to run to answer nature's call in the D exit of Sanyuanli metro station. Unfortunately, he fell on the staircase and got a heavy hit on his head."
What happened thereafter. Mao says somebody took Ojide to a nearby military hospital. "Then somebody took him to the military hospital nearby but the two weeks treatment given him could not save his life. He passed on October. 8th".
Mao says the management of Yulong building was responsible for payment of Ojide's medical bill. "That afternoon, Ojide's relatives gathered for mourning and demanded to know the truth about his death. They held talks with the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce in Guangzhou, represented by Mr Ojukwu Emma and the Chinese police and immigration officials."
According to Mao, the relatives of Ojide "left after getting the report including Ojide's death certificate," while "the management of Yulong building paid all the medical fees on moral basis." It will be recalled that Daily Sun's source in China had earlier said Chinese security men killed Ojide after he was clubbed with heavy iron rods as he tried to urinate where they were on duty.
"There was a mild exchange of words between the security men and Ojide over where or not to urinate. The security men objected to his urge to answer ‘nature's call,' while "abusing him and calling him derogatory names," the source said.
The incident occurred around the subway to the metro station in Lihua Sanyuanli, near Dragon Hotel in China. According to our source, Ojide was descending the steps leading to the subway metro station to look for another place to urinate when the security men rushed him and began to beat him. He was "hit on the head with heavy iron battens, knocking him to the ground in a pool of his own blood.
"Ekene was rushed to the intensive care unit of a military hospital near China hotel in Lihua Lu where doctors tried to save his life by draining blood from his already battered skull.' The incident was said to have triggered off a wave of anger and sorrow among Nigerians resident in China.