The family of 23-year-old Asher Christopher is seeking answers following his untimely death inside the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation office building on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt on August 20, 2024.
Dan Christopher, the father of the deceased, expressed shock over the lack of information and visibility surrounding his son’s demise. Asher worked as a cleaner and a casual worker at the NNPC.
During a media briefing in Port Harcourt, Dan Christopher shared that he received a call from his younger son around 4:15 pm on Tuesday, informing him that Asher’s colleague had summoned them to the police station at Old GRA, requesting their presence.
Upon arrival at the police station, confusion ensued as Asher’s name was not found on the list provided. After some back and forth, they were directed to the surveillance office upstairs, where they were asked to return the next day.
It was not until Wednesday that the police officially informed Dan Christopher about his son’s death. They escorted him and his wife to the NNPC facility on Moscow Road, where Asher worked. Questions arose about the circumstances of Asher’s fall from an unknown floor within the building.
Desperate for clarity, Dan Christopher inspected the area where his son allegedly fell, but found no concrete evidence pointing to the incident. He mentioned suspicious signs near a broken pipe and missing clothing pieces that raised further suspicions.
Expressing his frustration, Dan Christopher voiced his demand for justice and closure. He emphasized the need to verify his son’s identity by viewing his body, a request that was unfulfilled during their visit to the mortuary.
The State Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, acknowledged the incident and reassured that investigations were underway to uncover the truth behind Asher’s tragic demise.
Additionally, a rights advocacy organization, the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, called for a comprehensive probe into the incident to reveal the actual events that led to the young man’s death.
The National Coordinator, Prince Wiro, expressed concerns over the lack of immediate reporting to the appropriate authorities and urged the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, to intervene by transferring the case to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for a thorough investigation.
Wiro emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in resolving the case and sought justice for Asher Christopher and his grieving family.