In a deeply distressing incident, friends of a Nigerian medical student identified only as Ikem have expressed profound grief over his alleged murder by a group of Chinese individuals. Details surrounding the incident remain hazy at this time.
The heartbreaking news surfaced through a tweet from user @michaelojuola, who disclosed on Sunday that Ikem had met a tragic end. According to the tweet, Ikem’s hands were bound, his mouth was covered, and he was subjected to severe physical assault, ultimately leading to his untimely demise.
The tweet read, “A friend of mine, a Nigerian medical student named Ikem studying in the Republic of the Philippines was brutally murdered by a group of Chinese. They tied his hands up, covered and tied his mouth, and (he) was beaten blue-black until he gave up the ghost.”
Expressing shock and grief, the tweet went on, “This should never be allowed to get swept under the carpet regardless of the relationship between the Philippines and China. This is so inhuman and barbaric! I can’t even think straight at the moment because of the horrific videos I’m getting right now from the hospital.”
The tweet called for immediate intervention in the matter by Nigerian authorities, specifically mentioning the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the Nigerian Senate.
Several individuals responded to the tweet, including one user, @markstormbubble, who expressed his shock and confirmed his familiarity with Ikem, calling for justice and using the hashtag #JusticeForIkem.
Another user, @Magnifiers15, also claimed to know Ikem and expressed shock at the news.
When contacted for comment, the spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun, urged the individual making the report to submit a formal petition to the commission. He stated, “Encourage the person to petition NiDCOM. We want to put a face to every issue. Let him petition us, and then we will respond appropriately. Let him petition us if the thing happened so that we will investigate.”
The tragic incident has ignited outrage and calls for justice within the Nigerian community, both at home and abroad. As more details emerge, the hope is that a thorough investigation will be carried out to determine the circumstances surrounding Ikem’s tragic death and hold those responsible accountable.