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 11:08 pm on Monday, $16,476 had been raised on a fundraising platform, GoFundMe, by 390 people.
Contributions from donors Punch NewspaperThe 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.
Credit: Omojuwa