A bolt driver, simply identified as Sylvester, reportedly slumped and died on Friday night, while sitting with his friends in the Boms axis of Elekahia in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
It was gathered that Sylvester was earlier seen working on his vehicle at about 6:30 pm same day.
He reportedly slumped few minutes after he went to sit with his friends in front of an electrical shop in the area.
Many residents of the community said the man was well known to them, especially as he lived in the neighbourhood.
A resident who gave her name as Maria said, “I saw him pressing his phone while sitting with his friends.
“I was going to dispose waste and on my way back at that same spot, I saw the people around him shouting. As I turned to see what was happening, I saw that the man was flat on the ground.
“The men that he sat with looked at one another and were wondering. They first thought it was epilepsy. But after some time, one of them touched and shook him without getting any response from him.
”The deaceased was living alone, though he had children, he had long separated from his wife.”
Another resident, who simply identified himself as Mr Jude, said that the deceased was his friend, adding that they attended the same church.
“I was called on the phone that he had died near his house. So, in shock, I asked what happened, I was told he just slumped and that was it. He was gone.
“I feel pained because I have known him for years and we were both Catholics. I never heard that he was sick because he was looking okay even when I saw him few days ago,” Jude stated.
It was gathered the man’s remains was carried in an ambulance, by a relative, assisted by some sympathisers to a morgue in the city.
All attempts to get confirmation from the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, proved abortive.
