Family Devastated As Young Man With Plans For Education In Canada Is Killed

Family Devastated As Young Man With Plans For Education In Canada Is Killed

Innocent Meju, a man from Delta State, is engulfed in grief after discovering the lifeless body of his 33-year-old son, Smart, by the roadside in Agbor Town. In an emotional interview with Victoria Edeme, he reveals that his anguish will persist until the circumstances surrounding his son’s death are clarified by the police…….CONTINUE READING 

 

**You recently lost your son. How did you learn about his death?**

My name is Innocent Meju, from Ogwashi-Ukwu in the Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State. I live with my family in Agbor. Smart, my youngest child, was 33 years old and had a twin sister who is still in shock over his death.

On the morning of Wednesday, July 17, 2024, Smart left the house while I was still in bed. He told his siblings he was going to attend a graduation ceremony at a school along the Lagos-Asaba road in Agbor. Since he was an adult, I didn’t monitor his every move.

I stayed indoors that day because I wasn’t feeling well. Given my age, I rarely go out. In the evening, around 7 p.m., I tried to call Smart to ask him to pick something up for me, but his phone just kept ringing. I tried multiple times but received no response.

At first, I assumed he had returned home and was resting, planning to call me back when he saw my missed calls.

**Do you live together?**

Yes, we live in the same compound. The building has four flats, and I occupy the two upstairs. Smart had his room on the other side of my flat.

**Did he eventually return your call that day?**

No, he didn’t. By 8 p.m., his mother informed me that he hadn’t returned home. I began to worry, as he never stayed out beyond 7 p.m. For security reasons, I have a rule that the gate should be locked by that time, which applies to everyone in the compound.

Usually, Smart was the one who locked the gate and dropped the key. When he didn’t come home on time, everyone became concerned. We left the gate open, hoping he would return, but he didn’t. I continued to call him until about 3 a.m., but the phone kept ringing with no answer. I thought he might have stayed out, assuming the gate was locked, and would return in the morning.

With that thought, I managed to catch a bit of sleep after 3 a.m., though I barely slept. In the morning, I started calling him again, but this time the phone was unreachable. Anxiety set in, and I began to fear the worst. With the help of his mother and others, we started making calls and alerting people.

**When were you finally informed about his whereabouts?**

Around 11:40 a.m. on Thursday, I received a call that Smart had been found. The background noise made it difficult to understand what was being said, but I eventually gathered that he was at the police station. I began to worry, wondering what kind of trouble he might have gotten into.

When I arrived at the police station, I was told that he was dead. The news hit me like a bolt of lightning. I was so devastated that I nearly collapsed. I cried like never before, but it didn’t change anything. It felt like a terrible dream from which I couldn’t wake up. That’s how I found out my son was gone.

**Were you told how his body was discovered?**

I was told that people in the area found his body and alerted the police, who then took it to the station. When I tried to drive home, I almost passed out, but the police and others volunteered to drive me. It has been incredibly difficult since then.

Because the police recovered his body, the case is under their jurisdiction, and they have been handling the investigation. As a result, we’re not allowed to bury him yet. His body is still in the mortuary, and until this situation is resolved, the pain in our family remains unbearable.

**How far has the police investigation progressed?**

I haven’t been contacted with any updates. I’m still waiting to hear from them. I don’t want to interfere with their work, so I’ve decided to let them do what they need to do.

**Based on your instincts as a father, do you think his death was deliberate or accidental?**

I really don’t know. As humans, we can only speculate, but only God knows the truth. My son had been going out and coming home without any issues. It’s impossible to stay in one place 24 hours a day.

**What was your son’s occupation?**

He lived in Asaba, where he sold foam and mattresses. He had been pursuing further education abroad, which is why I brought him back to Agbor. He was almost done with the admission process to study in Germany, and all the payments had been made.

**Can you tell us more about his plans for further education?**

For years, Smart had been trying to continue his education abroad. He faced several setbacks but remained determined. He sought admission in Canada, the U.S., Germany, and Australia. He once secured admission to a German university and made all the necessary payments, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everything.

After the lockdown, the school informed us that due to the delays, we would have to wait longer. They refunded the payments we made, and we used the money to pursue admission to a Canadian school. He was admitted last year, but during the visa process, the institution encountered issues with the Canadian government, which ruined his plans. So, he decided to apply to another school.

Just a week before his death, I paid for him to take an English proficiency test, which was required for his Canadian visa application.

**What did he usually do when he went out?**

Whenever he went out, I wasn’t particularly worried because he might visit computer centers to gather materials and do research for his exam. He was always driven by the desire to excel. It’s hard for me because, at 33, he should have been planning to settle down.

**What was his educational background?**

Smart graduated in Accounting from Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, about 10 years ago. He was planning to pursue a master’s degree in Canada.

**Do you know if he reached the venue of the graduation ceremony he planned to attend?**

I didn’t go with him, so I don’t know what happened after he left. The last thing I heard from him was that he was going to the ceremony. I haven’t heard anything from him since.

**How has your family been coping since his death?**

The news shattered everyone, not just me. It has deeply affected everyone in the family, both here and in my hometown. A group from my hometown recently visited to ask questions and console me. This tragedy has shaken us all. I haven’t even driven my cars because nothing feels important anymore. Where would I go when my son is lying in the morgue?

**How would you describe your son?**

It’s not just me describing him—everyone who has come to visit has been talking about him. He was a quiet, peaceful person who never had issues with anyone. No one ever came to my house to complain about him. He just went about his business calmly. When I was better off financially, I gave him a car because I didn’t want him using a motorcycle. But when something is meant to happen, it doesn’t announce itself beforehand. At this point, it’s impossible to know what really happened.

**Did he have any health conditions that you were aware of?**

As a normal human being, no one is completely free from falling ill. Due to the water quality here, malaria and typhoid are common ailments. Apart from occasional cases of typhoid and malaria, he was healthy and had no internal illness or deformity.

**What kind of support has your family received?**

We’ve only received condolence visits. We’re not asking for money because it can’t bring back what we’ve lost. Even if someone offered financial assistance, I wouldn’t accept it because that’s not my concern. I’m not wealthy, but I’ve always managed what I have. Now, all my efforts and sacrifices have been wiped out just like that.

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