Nigerians have started donating to raise funds for the family of a late Nigerian policeman, Sergeant Chukwudi Iboko, who died after the robbery of a Zenith Bank branch on Wetheral Road, Owerri, Imo State.
The cop lost his life after confronting a four-man gang in a gun battle, which was captured on a Closed Circuit Television camera. In the 2.58 minutes video, the victim could be seen firing at the robbers before running out of a security post.
He was reported to have been injured during the incident and was admitted to a hospital where he died the following day. Following the SOS from the family, some readers urged The Punch to set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for the family.
In response to the overwhelming call, The Punch Newspapers, together with some social activitists, led by Kayode Ogundamisi, raised a GoFundMe account.
As of 11.07pm on Sunday, the account, which targets to raise $15,000 for the family, had realised $6,956 as contributions from 132 people.
The donors included Idowu Lawanson ($100); Emmanuel Fabelurin($5); Anonymous ($25); O Adewusi ($100); Olumide Okegbenro ($20); Adekunle Ogunsade ($20); Anonymous ($30); Funso Oyelohunnu ($25); Abiola Olaifa ($10); Derick Agbontaen ($50); Johnson Akinsehinwa ($50).
Social activist, Ogundamisi, has been in the forefront of raising funds to support the family.
Having raised N200,000 for the rent of the Ibokos, Ogundamisi campaigned vigorously on Twitter for Nigerians to join in the GoFundMe appeal.
One Philip Obin, who replied to Ogundamisi’s tweet, said a friend of his had indicated interest in sponsoring the education of the children.
“I have someone willing to sponsor the education of one of the children from primary to university. Kindly link me up with their mother@mobilepunch,” he tweeted.
APC United Kingdom, in its tweet, called on Nigerians to donate to the fund.
A blogger, Ifeanyi Njoku, said he would be handing over N500,000 to the widow of the deceased cop on Monday.
Attang said the unbearable cost of treatment at the police clinic forced him to go to a more affordable hospital.
The lone survivor acknowledged that Zenith Bank had provided N400,000, while the injured policemen were at the FMC Owerri, adding that the bank also provided another N200,000 for their care while they were at the police clinic.
He said since then he had been left to fend for himself.
Attang said AIG Lakanu visited them at the FMC on the day of the incident and told them that he (Lakanu) had spoken with the Inspector-General of Police, who had approved that they be recommended for promotion because of their gallantry.
Attang, however, expressed regrets that no word about the promotion had been heard again.
The injured policeman revealed further that appeals to the management of Zenith Bank had yielded no result.
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