National
Taxi driver slumps, dies in Rivers State
By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos
It was a sorry sight on Friday night when a taxi driver simply identified as Sylvester, suddenly slumped and died in the Boms axis of Elekahia in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Many residents of the community said the man was well known to them, especially as he lived in the neighbourhood.
According to information, it was learnt that Sylvester was earlier seen working on his vehicle at about 6:30 p.m. the same day and thereafter went to sit with his friends in front of an electrical shop in the area.
A lady who gave her name as Maria said, “I saw him pressing his phone while sitting with his friends.
“I was going to dispose of waste and on my way back to that same spot, I saw the people around him shouting. As I turned to see what was happening, I saw that the man was flat on the ground.
“The men that he sat with looked at one another and were wondering. They first thought it was epilepsy. But after some time, one of them touched and shook him without getting any response from him.”
The lady said the man was living alone, though he had children, he had long separated from his wife.
Another resident, who simply identified himself as Mr Jude, told Newsmen that the deceased was his friend, adding that they attended the same church.
“I was called on the phone that he had died near his house. So, in shock, I asked what happened, I was told he just slumped and that was it. He was gone.
“I feel pained because I have known him for years and we were both Catholics. I never heard that he was sick because he was looking okay even when I saw him a few days ago,” Jude stated while fighting back tears.
A few minutes afterwards, an ambulance arrived and a relative, assisted by some sympathisers, carried the men’s remains into the vehicle, which drove off immediately with sympathisers gazing until it was out of sight.
A spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, did not take several calls put across to her by Newsmen.