by ‘Jola Sotubo

A palm wine tapper in Enugu has been beaten to a pulp by his debtors after he attempted to collect the money he was owed.

Emenike Nkwuo had managed to collect N9,000 out of the 10,000 owed him but he was assaulted when he went back to collect the balance from one Ifeanyi Achi.

Nkwuo was severely injured after the beating and is said to be at the risk of losing an eye.

Leadership reports:

The situation degenerated and after a shouting match, Achi proceeded to beat his supplier to a pulp. According to reports, Nkwuo now stands the risk of losing his left eye. LEADERSHIP understands that it had taken the crowd of sympathizers at the scene to prevent the palm wine-tapper from being gravely injured.

Ifeanyi, according to reports, had purchased two jars of palm wine at N10, 000 and paid N9,000, promising to pay the remaining N1,000 within two weeks. But he failed to keep his promise.

But when the victim stormed the area to collect the outstanding N1,000, around 9am, Achi, known for his quick temper, got into some hot exchange with Nkwuo, before proceeding to beat him, injuring his left eye.

Eye witnesses said that upon seeing his deed, Achi had thought the wine-tapper dead and tried to run away, but was apprehended by two passers-by who heard the victim screaming in pain.

Nkwuo was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment but was further referred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH). But there are fears that he might be partially blind.