Man slumps and dies while arguing with friend

A bizarre scenario played out yesterday at the Okigwe Road roundabout, Owerri, as a man slumped and died while having a heated argument with his friend. The deceased, whose name could not be ascertained before press time, was said to be a block moulder and hailed from one of the communities in Ngor Okpala local council area of Imo State. According to a man who claimed to have witnessed the entire incident said, the duo were arguing over a possible business transaction. “From the way the argument flowed, they obviously had a transaction that probably went sour. There were no exchange of blows and I can’t remember hearing any of them threatening the other, but one of them slumped and died”, the man recounted with shock. Vanguard gathered that shortly after the deceased slumped, some sympathisers rushed him to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, where he was confirmed dead on arrival. However, it was also gathered that the dead man’s friend, who was identified as Dozie Eze, from Orodo, Mbaitoli local government area of the state, is said to be answering a few questions at the State Police Headquarters, Owerri. Speaking to no one in particular, a relation of the suspect, Mr. Iyke Eze, fumed that “Dozie is being persecuted for no just cause, especially as those at the scene of the incident have testified that there was no exchange of blows before the man slumped and died”. When contacted on his mobile line, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, confirmed the incident. “Yes, such a thing happened. However the report available to me is that somebody slumped and later died”, Enwerem said. Continuing, the PPRO said that it has not been established that there was a fight or verbal threat before the deceased slumped and died. When asked to confirm if anybody was detained in connection with the incident, the PPRO said he was not aware of such a development. “I am not aware that anybody was detained in connection with the incident. There are necessary indices that must be established before the police detains any suspect. The instant case can’t be one of them”, Enwerem explained.