In
an overwhelming show of love and devotion to a cause, Nigerians from different
parts of the world raised over $15,000 for the family of Sergeant Chukwudi
Iboko, the policeman that was killed during a robbery in a branch of Zenith
Bank in Imo State.
As
of 11.08pm on Monday, $16,476 had been raised on a fundraising platform, GoFundMe, by 390 people
The
feat was achieved within 24 hours of the start of the campaign by PUNCH Newspapers and other
social activists in the country, led by Kayode Ogundamisi.
The
late sergeant in whose honour the project was initiated, Chukwudi, died
on February 23, 2017 after confronting some robbers who invaded a Zenith
Bank branch on Wetheral Road, Owerri.
The
late father of eight children, in a 2.58 video clip released in June 2017,
could be seen engaging a four-man robbery gang in a gun battle, during which he
shot dead one of the robbers.
The
video, which went viral on the social media, also captured Chukwudi being shot
at by one of the robbers after he ran out of a security post at the entrance of
the bank.
Investigation
by The PUNCH revealed
that the victim died a day after the incident.
His
widow, Rose, in an exclusive interview, lamented that one of their eight
children, Chukwuebuka, died from shock on the day of the father’s burial,
adding that the police authorities abandoned her and her surviving children.
She
also said Zenith Bank only paid for the burial of her husband.
Readers
had challenged PUNCH
Newspapers to create a platform to raise funds for the deceased’s
family, with many Nigerians pledging to support the cause.
With
the support of some activists, PUNCH
Newspapers took up the gauntlet and created a GoFundMe account for the
family on Sunday, setting a target of $15,000.
In
less than 24 hours, the target was exceeded.
PUNCH Metro observed that the highest donation was
$1,000 and the least was $5.
While
some of the donors commended the courage of the deceased policeman, others
asked the Nigerian government to also support the family.
One
Elochukwu Obimdike, who gave $5, said, “You won’t know (what) this feels until
it happens to someone that you know.”
Another
donor, Tope Fasua, who gave $120, asked that part of the funds should be used
to support the other policemen involved in the tragedy.
“Please,
let us use this money for the other affected policemen and to put Zenith Bank
and Nigerian Police under pressure. Thanks The
PUNCH for this initiative. You clocked the amount in one day, plus
extra,” he wrote.
Another
contributor, Tinu Ojikutu, who gave $20, said, “Your husband and your dad was
such a brave man. He was a hero. I pray the Lord continues to comfort you all.
God bless you.”
Nigerians,
who are willing to make contributions, but could not explore GoFundMe platform,
requested that a bank account should be opened in the name of the family for
naira donation.
A
Twitter user, Morakinyo, @tipsy8701, said she had difficulty donating to the
cause through GoFundMe.
“Please,
can PUNCH
provide a bank account to pay the fund? My payment is not going through on the
platform. Thank you,” she tweeted.
Another
Nigerian, Stan, with a Twitter handle, @Stannwasky, was also interested in
donating, but for the technicality of the online platform.
“Don’t
know how to donate through this stuff,” she wrote.
On
the GoFundMe
page, one Fredrick Obinna-Raymond Chukwuemeka, requested the opening of a bank
account domiciled in Nigeria.
He
posted, “Please, is there any Nigerian bank account (ino which) one can
make his own donation?”
Visitors
to PUNCH Online,
who read the story on the GoFundMe
fundraising for the Ibokos, also wanted to donate in naira.
A
poster, with the alias Soulchild,
wrote, “PUNCH,
how can one donate to this cause? And must I only donate in USD? You are
limiting the amount that can be raised by disenfranchising those of us that do
not have domiciliary accounts.”
Another
reader, identified as Twins,
inquired, “Is there an account number one can pay directly into?”
One
Moses also indicated interest, saying, “PUNCH
kudos. To get more support which many of us want to give, kindly publish a bank
account number we can credit in naira.”
Amebo
wrote, “PUNCH,
please publish the account number to enable my folks back home to make some
payment to the account. I have already instructed them to donate some money
into the account.”
A
Nigerian, who claimed to be resident outside the country, Dike Offor, said he
had been following the story religiously and would like to assist the Ibokos.
“Please
PUNCH, I don’t
reside in Nigeria, but I am up to date with the news in my great
country…please, I need the account number of the fundraising for the family,”
he said.
Following
this, PUNCH Newspapers
has decided to open a bank account for the purpose of raising funds in naira for
the family.
Meanwhile,
The PUNCH and
its partners would soon announce three non-governmental organisations that
would manage the funds raised for the family to ensure accountability.
Some
of the donors for the GoFundMe are (check box):
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