Following the death of a Nigerian businessman — identified as Ife Anyi by the Nigerian Community of Students Association — in the wee hours of Monday, the City Police Commissioner has appealed to the rider of the scooter to come forward to give his version of the events preceding the incident.
According to the police, Mr. Anyi was riding pillion on a scooter that met with an accident , while the driver of the scooter fled the scene.
However, Igwe Elvis, president of the Nigerian Community of Students’ Association, said that he has evidence to prove that Mr. Anyi was not killed in the accident. “The rider of the scooter has contacted us and claims there was no accident,” Mr. Elvis alleged, refusing to disclose the driver’s identity. Police Commissioner Praveen Sood said that the victim’s associate should come forward and provide details. Bosco Kaweesi, legal adviser, All Africa Students’ Association Bengaluru, said that police had asked them to identify the body on Monday morning, hours after the death. “The man had suffered a head wound at the back of his head, which was still bleeding on Monday morning when we went to identify him. He also suffered injuries on his face. How can a man in an accident suffer injuries both on his face and back of his head?” he asked, giving voice to his suspicion that Mr. Anyi’s death was no accident. However, senior police officers have denied any police involvement and said they were open to any probe. “The autopsy of the body and the tracking down of the driver of the scooter will throw more light,” a senior police officer said.
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Mr. Kaweesi said that two years of good relations between the police and the African community had deteriorated after a Ugandan woman was stabbed to death. “We have informed the Nigerian embassy and an official is expected to come down on Tuesday following which we will decide on the next step,” he said.