Niger Delta
Alleged Assault: Total Staff Demands Justice
The management of Total (Exploration and Production) Ltd has been blamed for abandoning one Mr. Precious Okwu, of its maintenance department who suffered severe beating from soldiers attached to the company’s Life Camp at Ogbogu, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local government area, Rivers State.
The incident which occurred, August 30, when Precious Okwu was allegedly submerged in a water tank after being brutally manhandled by the soldiers, has left the victim gasping for life.
A letter endorsed by Mr. Okwu’s solicitors, Okwuchukwu G. Adah to Total Ltd, copies of which were sent to Egi Peoples Forum, Egi Youths Federation, among others, indicates that Okwu was rescued by a combined team of some top officials of the company and some locals who intervened to save him from imminent death.
Currently, blood issues from Okwu’s eyes and ears as he lies critically ill at an hospital.
Meanwhile, Okwu’s lawyers are also demanding that Total should take interest in his treatment by ensuring his transfer to a specialist hospital while the sum of N20 million be paid to him as damages, for humiliation, internal injuries he suffered following the assault by the soldiers.
“A stitch in time saves nine, there is 75 per cent likelihood of Mr. Precious Okwu dying if he is not sent to a specialist hospital timously”, the letter asserts.
Thomas Abbey