A 23-year-old contract employee with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), identified as Asher Christopher, tragically lost his life on Tuesday after reportedly falling from a five-storey building while on duty.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, sparking demands from Christopher’s family for a comprehensive investigation.
The heartbreaking news has left Christopher’s family in distress, particularly his father, Christopher Dan, who is grappling with the lack of detailed information about his son’s death. Dan recounted how he first learned of the incident when one of his other sons informed him that the police at Old GRA Police Station needed to see him urgently.
“On Tuesday, around 4:15 p.m., one of my sons called to tell me that a colleague of Asher’s had asked me to come to Old GRA Police Station because the police needed me. I asked what happened, but my son said he didn’t know,” Dan recalled.
Upon arriving at the police station, Dan was met with confusion. “When I got there, I asked where Asher was, but they couldn’t find his name on any list at the station. I had my son call Asher’s colleague again, and they then directed us to the Surveillance Office upstairs at Old GRA Police Station.”
The ordeal continued into the next day, as the police took Dan and his wife, along with other individuals, to the NNPC Upstream and Downstream office on Moscow Road, where the tragic fall allegedly occurred.
“I asked them to show me the exact spot where my son fell, but they couldn’t provide a clear answer,” Dan said. “They claimed nobody knows if he fell from the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or even the last floor. When they finally showed me the place, I saw no signs that someone had fallen from there.”
Grace Iringe-Koko, the Public Relations Officer for the state police command, confirmed the incident and assured that an investigation is currently underway at the Old GRA Police Division. However, the lack of clarity surrounding the incident has raised concerns from various quarters.
Mr. Prince Wiro, National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, has joined the call for a thorough probe into Christopher’s death. Wiro questioned why the incident was not reported to the Central Police Station (CPS), which has jurisdiction over the area where the tragedy occurred.
As the investigation unfolds, Christopher’s family and advocates continue to seek answers, urging authorities to leave no stone unturned in determining the truth behind this devastating loss.
