The life of a promising young man, Tony Agbakoba, was tragically cut short barely a month after concluding his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Delta State. Tony, a recent corps member who served at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Asaba, was allegedly murdered by his own friends in what police suspect to be a case of jealousy-fuelled homicide.
Tony had just secured employment with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), a rare opportunity that many Nigerian graduates wait years to attain.
According to family members, he was preparing to resume his new role and was washing his clothes at his family home in Onitsha when he received a call from his friends asking him to meet them at an undisclosed location.He left the house that day with excitement never to return. Hours later, his family received the devastating news of his death.
Reports suggest that Tony was strangled, with medical evidence pointing to foul play.
According to sources at the hospital where he was rushed by the suspects, Tony arrived lifeless. The individuals with him claimed he had been involved in an accident.
However, the attending doctor reportedly became suspicious after noticing the absence of bruises or accident-related injuries on Tony’s body. Instead, his tongue was protruding, an indication consistent with strangulation. The doctor discreetly alerted the police. Law enforcement officers arrived promptly, arresting one of the friends who accompanied Tony to the hospital. Two others, who were reportedly waiting outside, fled the scene upon sensing police presence. They remain at large, while the apprehended suspect is said to have provided useful information aiding the ongoing investigation.
“This is a heart-breaking incident. A young, vibrant man who had just completed his national service and was about to begin a promising career has been cut down in his prime allegedly by the people he trusted,” said a family spokesperson.
Tony served at NTA Asaba as an attached cameraman to one of the station’s senior staff, Odiakose Odekpe and was widely regarded as diligent, sociable, and ambitious. His sudden death has sent shockwaves across the media and youth communities in Delta and Anambra states.
Police authorities have assured the public that investigations are ongoing and that efforts are underway to track down the fleeing suspects. The motive, believed to be jealousy, underscores a growing concern over youth-related violence and the toxic effects of envy and unemployment among peers.
As Tony’s family and friends mourn his untimely demise, calls for justice and systemic change in youth welfare and employment opportunities have grown louder.
Tony’s dreams of a secure future and a blossoming career may have been silenced, but his story serves as a reminder of the dangers lurking within trusted circles.
