Threat To Life : Death of Apprentice Sets Family, Master On Collision Course

Residents of Benin Agbor road in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government areas of Edo State were thrown into confusion and shock recently following an alleged attack on Mr.Festus Asemota as a result of the death of one Sunday Osaretin, an apprentice attached to him .

A source at the scene of the incident who preferred anonymity, said that Mr Festus Asemota was a well known welder with his office located at no.45 Benin- Agbor Road, Benin City

He further said the deceased apprentice ( Sunday Osaretin) who was said to have unknowingly tampered with the welding machine after he was repeatedly cautioned by his master to stay away from the welding machine but refused to heed the warning signals as it (welding machine) was not insulated thereby leading to the sudden electrocution of his apprentice in the process after tampering with it.

The young and unconcious apprentice who was quickly taken to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention however did not survive after three days in coma

Speaking further, the source disclosed that the said Mr Festus Asemota was however arrested as a result of the incident and subsequent death of Sunday Osaretin resulting from negligence adding that after spending three months in police custody with investigation on the incident still ongoing, he was released.

His sudden release 3 months after from custody however generated public outrage among family members and sympathizers of the deceased apprentice as it was however gathered that Mr.Festus Asemota was unable to pay compensation requested by the family of the deceased apprentice for the death of their son.

The public outrage which followed his sudden release from custody 3 months after however degenerated into violent attack as family members and sympathizers attacked and destroyed his house but it was said that Mr.Festus Asemota was however fortunate to have escaped during the attack.

To futher compound his woes, it was gathered that his clients who had earlier contracted him to execute their jobs before his present ordeal came out demanding for their work while he was in police custody as he was unable to deliver on contracted jobs.

The source further told the correspondent that when he later visited the Benin-Agbor location of the welding shop ,the corpse of the young apprentice had been removed and the entire building deserted

However it was not the same when the correspondent visited Mr Festus Asemota’s residence as the alleged destruction of the house by hoodlums and the family members of the late apprentice was visible as there was nobody on ground to give information on the case.

Concerted efforts to get the family members of the deceased and the said Mr Asemota to speak on the issue were unsuccessful .

Probing further it was revealed that Mr Asemota had not been seen around after the incident occurred as he was reported to have gone into hiding as the family of the deceased apprentice vowed to eliminate him in the same manner thier son was eliminated .