Nigerian National tortured to death in Taxi…

A Nigerian national who made his way to Belize looking for greener pastures met his death in a most horrific way. The man was two classes away from completing a nursing programme and had carved out plans for his immediate future, but before the Easter break was over, all that was shattered. Jose Sanchez reports on the City’s latest homicide.

Jose Sanchez
Thirty-six year old Nigerian National Uwaoma Nelson Onwunali was murdered after ten pm on Monday night. He was a nursing student by day and a taxi driver by night. His life was brutally cut short as he was tortured to death inside his car.

Kendra Lofter
“Honestly, that looked like torturing because if it was robbery they would have taken his money, the little they had in his hand; I think fifteen dollars or something and they would at least take the car because he’s not a man who is a big time. So I really suspect robbery. I suspect enmity, which in he doesn’t has any problem with anyone. He’s normally a quiet guy; hard working, dedicated father. So I don’t know who would that to him.”

Onwunali’s red Mazda Protégé was found between Jane Usher Boulevard and Curl Thompson Street. His brother is stunned at the brutal murder.

Godwin Silas, brother of Uwaoma Onwunali
“The policeman said they beat him by Jane Usher boulevard. When I was asking him, he said somebody called them. They went to that place and saw he’s already dead.”

Jose Sanchez
“Some neighbours heard screaming?”

Godwin Silas
I think some neighbours heard screaming and they called the police.”

Jose Sanchez
“Your brother, did he have anyone who disliked him or did he have a problem with anyone?”

Godwin Silas
“No I didn’t know. I didn’t know if he had a problem with anyone.”

Jose Sanchez
“Do you think it was just a robbery?”

Godwin Silas
“No, I don’t think it was a robbery because he was stabbed a lot of times. He was stabbed at the chest. He was stabbed two, three times on the head. He was stabbed in the chest, his hand was cut. It is an assassination.”

Jose Sanchez
“Your brother came a long way to reach Belize.”

Godwin Silas
“He came a very long way and the when they come to Belize they have to suffer a lot before they come to Belize. Because he came here before me—he was here me. I came three years and six months ago but he has been here since 2000.”

Onwunali fathered a child with Kendra Lofter. She hopes this crime will be solved.

Kendra Lofter
“He came here as a student. He’s studying his bachelors in nursing. He worked with PAHO where he did field work and he also does taxi. I want justice for this. Even though he’s a foreigner, still give him justice because he came here to try to make a better life and honestly, it will be so sad. He left thousands of miles to come here to die without justice and not just that but our daughter, they were so close. I pray with that the good Lord is not asleep.”

Godwin Silas
“I want justice in this case. I want justice.”

At news time, there have been no arrests made in the murder of the Nigerian nursing student.

Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.