Edo debunks connection with death of 25-year-old man

The Edo State Government has said that it had no connection in the death of a 25-year-old physically-challenged man who died on Tuesday, after his body was dumped by unknown persons in Benin.

The late man, identified as Danjuma, was found lying lifeless in front of his uncle’s house at Oza Street in Benin.

It was also learnt that the deceased had earlier been dumped on a heap of refuse behind the house for several days by one Mr. Arase, who was identified as his uncle, and was occasionally fed by some good-spirited Nigerians.

But the President of a female group, Mrs. Florence Gbinigie, who reportedly took the late Danjuma to a hospital in Benin before he was transferred to the state ministry of women affairs for rehabilitation, had on Wednesday asked the state government to explain how the deceased was taken away from the ministry and abandoned again before his demise.

While reacting to the development, the state commissioner for women affairs, Mrs. Blessing Maigida told our corredpondent that the late Danjuma was not abandoned when he was brought to the ministry for rehabilitation.

She said that, although the ministry was not responsible for the rehabilitation of adults, it decided to take custody of the late man due to his condition.

Maigida, however, explained that during efforts to trace his family after taking care of him for one month, a team from the ministry was led by Arase to the residence of one Madam Josephine, identified as another relative who had initially been responsible for his upkeep.

She said that Josephine had agreed to take custody of the man after an argument ensued between her and Arase, who had earlier denied ever knowing the deceased.

The commissioner said, “We went with security agency and reconciled him with the aunty, who accepted, and we also promised her that, if there is any need to assist her, we can.

“We gave her our number and got her contact address but we never knew that she would return him to the street; that was where he died.

“She used to cater for the late man before she left him with the uncle. I don’t know what transpired between Danjuma and his uncle that led him to dump the man.”

She also dismissed the allegation that Project Charilove, an organization which caters for children with special needs in Benin, had offered to take custody of the late man, adding that the organisation does not cater for adults.

On the next line of action of the ministry on the matter, Maigida said that the late man’s aunty would be arrested after ascertaining that she actually dumped his nephew on the street.

“The said woman will be arrested for murder because I see no reason why she decided to dump Danjuma after accepting him from us.”

She also disclosed that the uncle would be rounded up by the police.

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Edo debunks connection with death of 25-year-old man