Corps member returning from nightclub killed in Abuja

The life of a 25-year-old corps member, Charity Thilza, has been brought to an abrupt end three days to the completion of her National Youth Service Corps programme in Abuja.

The Borno State indigene was killed by some robbers along Wuse 2 Road while she was returning home from a nightclub in Carribean, Wuse 2, around 3am on Monday.

The ‘passing-out parade,’ which marked the completion of her one-year programme, would hold on Thursday (today). She studied Linguistics and English at the University of Maiduguri.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Thilza and four friends, identified simply as Lola, Bisi, Pooja (an Indian) and a man had attended a show at the club, where a hip hop artiste, Chibuzor Azubuike, popularly called Phyno, performed on Sunday.

They were said to be returning home from the party in a car the following day when the robbers gave them a chase.

The assailants reportedly shot at the car repeatedly and some of the bullets pierced through the windscreen and hit Thilza, who was sitting at the back. One of the friends, Lola, was said to have also sustained gunshot injuries.

Our correspondent learnt that the robbers retreated when they noticed that the driver of the car was heading towards a police station.

Thilza’s close friend, Thlama Bukar, said she was rushed to a hospital, but was rejected. She said she died on the way to another hospital that she was referred to.

Bukar, who spoke with PUNCH Metro on the telephone, said she was together with Thilza until Friday, when she (Bukar) returned to Maiduguri, Borno State, where she lives.

She said, “Phyno performed at the Carribean (the club) on Sunday. They were coming back home around 3am on Monday when they noticed that a car was trailing them. They took a detour, but  the car continued following them. The driver of their car started speeding and the robbers opened fire on the car. Unfortunately, some of the bullets hit Thilza from the back of the car.

“Five persons went for the party. One of them is a man, but I don’t know his name. I learnt Lola was also hit by the bullets and has been admitted to a hospital. The incident was reported to the police.

“Thilza lived in Zone 6, Wuse 2, and served at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Abuja. She clocked 25 years in January. Her corpse will be brought to Maiduguri on Thursday (today). Her father is late. Presently, her mother is not talking; she is very distraught. She was the first child of the family. She has four young siblings.”

Bukar said Thilza had planned to join the NSCDC after the service, adding that her death was a big loss to the family.

She said, “She was a kind and simple person. I left her and other friends in Abuja on Friday. They accompanied me to the airport when I was returning to Maiduguri. She told me she wanted to join the NSCDC.”

Friends of the deceased on Facebook have also expressed shock over her death, extending their condolences to her family.

One Monsurat Abdulrasaq wrote, “Oh, Charity! Our souls are full of pains on hearing of your unfair demise. This got to me like a swift wind. May God comfort your entire family at this tough time. May God bring you comfort. Amen.”

A colleague, Jabal Gadzama, wrote on Thilza’s timeline that they met a few days ago.

“Please, can someone explain what happened to me? I was with her last week during the biometric for our NYSC final clearance. Please, just tell me it is not true,” she said.

The spokesperson for the NYSC, Federal Capital Territory, Mrs. Abosede Aderibigbe, said the corps was making efforts to ensure the release of the corpse for burial.

She said, “The victim was our member with code number, FCT/15a/5295. She was supposed to pass out on Thursday (today). We learnt she and her friends went clubbing.

“When they were coming back around 3am in a flashy car, armed robbers trailed them. When they could not get them, they shot at the car and the bullets hit her.

“They tried rushing her to the National Hospital, Abuja, but she died on the way. The family members are in Abuja with the NYSC coordinator. The corpse is with the police. Possibly, it will be released for burial tomorrow (Thursday).”

The police spokesperson, FCT Command, ASP Anjuguri Mensah, said he was on a course and promised to send the number of his deputy to our correspondent for comments on the incident. He had, however, yet to send the number as of press time.

Source – Punch