A labourer identified only as Joshua is in custody at the Boundary Police Division in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State for allegedly stabbing a site supervisor, Sopiriala Sokari, into a coma.

As of Saturday, December 6, 2025, the suspect remained in detention, while medical personnel raced against time to keep the victim alive at a hospital in Aluu.

Narrating his ordeal in a telephone conversation from his hospital bed shortly after regaining consciousness, Mr Sokari said the labourer attacked him with a broken bottle during a dispute over ₦10,000.

He explained that he had hired the suspect to move blocks to a construction site.

According to him, the attacker ignored the pleas of a nearby food vendor to assault him viciously.

He said, “There is a boy called Joshua, who did a job for me, to transfer blocks to where they are working. The total job he did was 20,000 naira. So when he did the job. As I saw him, I asked him to take ₦10,000 first, let me confirm the job, then I would give him the balance.

“He refused, saying that I must give him the whole money. He later met me where I was eating, along Obiri Ikwerre road and insisted that I should give him the money now but I still told him that I will give him only ₦10,000 until I confirm the work.

“The next thing, he went and broke a bottle. The woman who was selling even had to bring out ₦20,000 after seeing his mood and giving it to him. After taking the money from the woman who was selling, he still used the bottle and stabbed me.

“No I am lying down at Cottage Solution Hospital, Mbodo Aluu, where I was admitted. I am calling on Nigerians to help me.I have spent a lot of money. I need justice,” Sokari added.

Video clips reviewed by our reporter showed that Mr Sokari sustained multiple injuries from the bottle attack.

The Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Iringe-Koko said, “Yes, the suspect has been arrested. In-depth investigation is ongoing.” (Saturday Independent, text, excluding headline)

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