In the early hours of July 29, 2024, tragedy struck the Osaghae family in Auchi, Edo State, when 33-year-old Fidelis Osaghae, a manager at Valchi Fast Food and Bar, died under mysterious circumstances at his workplace. His widow, Esther, a nursing mother of a two-month-old baby, is now fervently seeking justice and clarity regarding the events that led to her husband’s untimely death.
Recounting the harrowing sequence of events, Esther shared that on the evening of July 28, Fidelis left for work as usual. In the early hours of the next day, around 2:30 a.m., he unexpectedly returned home on a motorcycle. “He returned at 2:30 a.m., asked me not to close the door. My husband went to work his car on that Sunday afternoon and he came back home with a bike; the bike was waiting for him. He told me not to lock the door, that he was going back, that his boss asked him to bring something, so I left the door open,” Esther recounted. This was the last time she saw her husband alive.
Growing anxious as dawn approached and with no sign of Fidelis, Esther began calling his phone around 5:00 a.m., but received no response. She then reached out to Tracey, a supervisor at the establishment, who reassured her that “everything is under control” before abruptly ending the call. Her worry intensified until, at approximately 6:00 a.m., she received a call from Fidelis’s employer, Valentine Oyemike, instructing her to come to Favour Hospital in Afasho, Edo State.
Due to her responsibilities as a nursing mother, Esther’s elder sister, Etomi, went to the hospital on her behalf. Upon arrival, Etomi was confronted with the devastating sight of Fidelis’s lifeless body in Mr. Oyemike’s car. The hospital had reportedly refused to admit him, stating he was “brought in dead.” Disturbingly, upon examining the body, Etomi observed unusual marks and injuries, suggesting possible torture prior to his death.
In the aftermath, Esther sought answers from Mr. Oyemike, who allegedly claimed that Fidelis had committed suicide by ingesting a poisonous substance at work. This assertion has been met with skepticism, especially given the visible injuries on Fidelis’s body and the lack of any apparent motive for such an act.
The handling of the case by local authorities has further compounded the family’s distress. Esther alleges that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Auchi Division has shown bias, seemingly siding with Mr. Oyemike without conducting a thorough investigation. This perceived partiality has eroded the family’s confidence in the local police’s ability to impartially handle the case.
In response, the Akin Fadeyi Foundation (AFF), a civil society organization, has intervened on behalf of the Osaghae family. They have formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, urging a comprehensive and unbiased investigation into the circumstances surrounding Fidelis’s death. The petition emphasizes concerns about potential interference and compromise at the local level, given Mr. Oyemike’s influential status in the community.
The Edo State Police Command has since announced that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further scrutiny. However, as of now, no arrests have been made, and the family continues to await definitive answers.
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This tragic incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice, both within the local community and on social media platforms. Many are demanding a transparent investigation to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and to provide the grieving family with the closure they desperately seek.
As the investigation progresses, the public remains vigilant, hoping that justice will prevail for Fidelis Osaghae and his bereaved family.
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