When 38 years old Mr. Matthew Akioyamen,a Master Degree holder in Biochemistry from the University of Benin left his family ( wife and three children) on the 2nd of December,2020.They never knew, that was going to be their last meeting .
He was allegedly killed in his work place at Okomu Oil Palm PLC in Benin ,Edo State.
After waiting for more than a month for Okomu Oil to do the needful,and not getting any response from the company. The family on Thursday, cried out to President Muhammadu Buhari, Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu to urgently bring to book those who murdered their son .
Addressing newsmen in Benin, counsel to the family, Ohioma George, Esq. said late Akioyamen left his official apartment given to him by the company to work in the farm on December 2, 2020, and didn’t return home, adding that the next was that his lifeless body was found with matchets all over his body.
According to George, Esq., when the body was found, the company, without having a recourse to the police took the body to their private mortuary without letting the late man’s family to know, adding that the company has been handling the case since then with levity.
“The young man was dastardly murdered at Okomu Oil premises. He was employed by the company in 2015, and since then he has been working with the company.
“Because of his meritorious work, and the way he handled his job, he was given an accommodation in Okomu Oil premises. he was also given a motorbike, to enable him properly carry out his work as he was one of the supervisors.
“On this faithful day, he went to work sometime on the 2nd of December, 2020, and never returned to his house in the company. Efforts were made to look for him, and eventually he was seen dead with matchets cut all over his body. After he was discovered dead, our pains, our apprehension, isthe way and manner the company went about this matter.
“The company, without recourse to the police took the corpse to their own mortuary, a mortuary and a hospital that’s not government-owned, and not recognise by government, and dumped the deseased lifeless body on the ground. Ever since, the company didn’t deem it fit to pay visit to the family of the young man that was killed,” he said.
George said since the incident happened and the family became aware, the company has not deem it fit to visit the family of the slained man, alleging that management of the company in connivance with the police are trying to downplay the murder case.
He said, “Justice must be done. We deserve justice, the family deserves justice, the children are crying for justice. How can the deseased be murdered in cold blood with three kids, wife, mother, and grandmother. He is the bread winner of his family,” the Counsel said.
On her part, wife of the slained man, Mrs. Osaiyobowen Akioyamen, said since the incident happened, the family has been pressurising the police to investigate the matter but unfortunately they show no readiness, just as she lamented that the police have not made a single arrest of her husband’s killers.
She said the only persons arrested on the case were arrested by Okomu Oil Palm and not the police.
“I am crying out for justice. I want justice for my slained husband, I need justice for the father of my children that was murdered. He was the breadwinner of the family. he has mother, he has grandmother,” she cried for help.
Evey attempt to get the side of Okomu Oil Palm PLC proved abortive as calls and messages sent to the PRO was not responded to,but the State Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor said seven people have been arrested over the matter and that investigation is still on.
