Man Battles For Life After Being Assaulted By Abia COVID-19 Task Force [PHOTOS]

A man yet to be identified is currently battling with his life after being assaulted by the Abia state COVID-19 task-force in Umuahia north.

It was gathered that trouble started when the victim, a commercial tricycle operator who approached a checkpoint opposite the General Post office in the capital city and was stopped by the task-force officers.

According to report, one of his passengers was not wearing face mask as mandated by the state government.

She was said to have hurriedly searched for it from her bag before the team attacked the Keke rider for carrying a passenger allegedly violating COVID-19 safety protocol.

The officers directed the Keke operator to take the vehicle to the local council headquarters and as he was still asking the task-force member to take it easy, he received a deadly blow on his face, with three other punches coming simultaneously before the victim lost his balance and slumped lifelessly on the road, Igberetv reports.

The scenario attracted passersby who gathered to see the end of the Thursday afternoon drama while the attacker fumed in his rage over what he saw as belittling by the tricycle operator.

But when it became obvious that the Keke Operator may not be coming back so soon, the crowd became violent and insisted that the task force staff single-handedly convey his victim to hospital.

In the melee that ensued, the irate mob started manhandling the task-force staff who after taking the heat for a while, made well his escape after taking to his heels and running into the council headquarters.

See photos below.