A three-year-old child, identified as Obinna Ude, was attacked by ten dogs being owned by the Proprietor of Global Growth Academy, Amokpo, Umuanunwa, Nteje, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The Punch reported that the 10 dogs jumped on the victim in the school premises and killed him when he and his uncle, Chima Ude, went for registration.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, around 7:10 am.
According to the Punch, a resident of the community explained that the three-year-old boy walked off while his uncle was trying to fill out the forms to perfect the registration process.
It was reported that the resident said that the 10 dogs, on sighting the child, broke out of their cage, jumped on the boy, and ravaged him.
The dogs were said to be owned by the proprietor of the school, a United Kingdom returnee identified as Chinedu Oka, alias Chinedu-Okaa London.
The resident while narrating the ordeal said “The dogs dragged the little boy to their cage where about 10 of them tumbled on the three-old boy without anyone from the school management coming to his rescue.
“The Nteje community, where the incident happened, culturally prohibits rearing of dogs. It’s taboo to rear dogs here. The UK returnee proprietor was warned but he refused to adhere to the community’s instructions.”
It was gathered that the incident incited anger in the community, with a group of youth and vigilantes raging the school premises and shooting all the dogs to death.
Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Nteje, Igwe Roland Odegbo, who confirmed the incident, said he backed the killing and burning of the dogs, adding that the proprietor had been handed over to the authorities for the law to take its course.
The monarch also said the proprietor was aware that rearing dogs was prohibited in the Nteje community but still went ahead to keep them.
According to the monarch, he said, “The young man knows that we don’t accommodate dogs in our community and he went ahead to surround himself with dogs despite warning from the community.
“To us, the young man committed murder and it is an abomination in our community to kill someone.
“We have handed him over to the appropriate authorities and we will make sure that justice is served because we don’t condone evil.
“The youths have killed and burnt the dogs and we are in support of their actions,” the traditional ruler stated.
On hearing about the tragic incident, parents hurriedly withdrew their wards from the school.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, also confirmed the incident, in a statement, titled, ‘Animal Attack’ stating that the Anambra State Police Command wishes to inform the general public, especially Ndi Anambra, that investigation is ongoing into the unfortunate incident that led to dogs attack a child at Nteje in the Oyi Local Government Area.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that on 15/09/2021 at 0710hrs, one Chima Obi Ude M of Isiogu village, Nteje came with his nephew, Obinna Ude, 3 years, to the school for registration.
“The dogs within the school environment jumped out of the cage and attacked Obinna. The victim was rushed to the hospital and was confirmed dead by a doctor on duty. The body has been deposited at the mortuary.
“In view of the above, some angry youths within the area killed the dogs and set them ablaze, the statement added.”
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