Driver Bites off, Swallows Ebonyi Task Force Member’s Finger

A commercial bus driver in Ebonyi State on Tuesday bit off and swallowed the right index finger of one Iboko Kenneth, a member of the state task force team.

The incident occurred at Onuebonyi junction in Abakaliki metropolis when the state Ministry of Capital City Development and its task force were on an enforcement duty.

The task force officials were out to ensure no illegal park operated within the capital city after transport companies relocated to a new park known as Akubaraoha Central Park, provided by the state government.

On getting to the Onuebonyi junction, some drivers were seen ‘loading’ passengers. The unlucky taskforce official, Kenneth, attempted to arrest one of the drivers but the driver instead grabbed one of his fingers and bit it off.

According to eyewitnesses, the driver went ahead to swallow the finger and escaped with his vehicle. The victim was rushed to the emergency unit of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Capital City Development, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, who said that the incident would be investigated described it as terrible and barbaric.

“It is very unfortunate that a driver can attack a law officer to the point of chopping off his finger. This is terrible, unexpected and it is barbaric.

“I want to plead with motorists not to pull our legs because the task force members are not weak and we do our job within the confines of the law.”