The brother of the late Chizoba Oguzie, a young mother of two who tragically died after a water tank crashed through the roof of her apartment while she was asleep, has accused both the Lagos State Police and a private hospital of exploitation and insensitivity following her death.
Chizoba, a hairdresser and aspiring beauty entrepreneur, was killed on March 18, 2025, at her residence on Number 7, View Avenue, Chevron area of Lagos.
Meanwhile, her elder brother, Amarachi Oguzie, who lives in the United States, described the incident as not just a tragedy but a devastating example of institutional negligence and extortion.
“She didn’t even get a chance to scream for help. Just like that, she was gone,” Amarachi told PUNCH.
“She went to bed expecting to wake up, but she never did. She didn’t deserve this. No one does.”
According to Amarachi, the water tank stand collapsed during the day while Chizoba was resting at home after work.
However, the full tank smashed through the building’s roof and landed directly on her bed.
“It’s heartbreaking. She had just returned from work, freshened up, and lay down to rest. That was it,” he recounted. “It happened so suddenly and violently that she never woke up.”
Despite efforts by neighbours to save her, she was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.
In a shocking revelation, Amarachi alleged that the hospital demanded a payment of N250,000 before releasing her body, despite confirming she was dead on arrival.
“I asked, ‘Why are you charging this money when she was brought in dead?’ The doctor said it was hospital policy. I didn’t want her body to start decaying, so I paid immediately,” Amarachi said.
However, the hospital added another hurdle, demanding a police report before releasing the corpse.
When Favour Nnanna — the lady who sublet the apartment to Chizoba — volunteered to help obtain the police report, the extortion allegedly continued.
“She went to the police station, but officers there demanded N100,000 just to let her make a statement,” Amarachi said.
“When I asked for an official account number to pay, they refused and told me to send the money to a PoS operator’s account.”
Amarachi said he had no choice but to comply, as the delay was compounding the family’s grief.
The family’s attempts to reach the actual owner of the property where the tragedy occurred had been unsuccessful.
Amarachi claimed that Favour, the woman who rented the flat to his sister, provided a phone number supposedly belonging to the landlady—who she said was abroad.
“When I called the number, the woman who picked up said she didn’t even know my sister or anything about the incident,” Amarachi said.
“If my sister had set the house on fire, I bet the landlady would have surfaced. But now that a life was lost due to structural failure, she’s nowhere to be found.”
He added that Favour has since avoided giving a valid contact, citing one excuse after another.
Amarachi, who broke the news to their mother after the body had been transported to their native Imo State, described the aftermath as emotionally and mentally draining for the entire family.
“My mother hasn’t been the same. My dad is late, and she’s been going through this all alone. We tried to comfort her, but how do you comfort a grieving mother?” he said.
“It’s unbearable. The silence from the house owner is the most painful part. A human life was lost there, and no one even reached out.”
Chizoba had returned from Dubai recently and was planning to open a salon in Lagos. She was a trained hairdresser and nail technician and also sold beauty products online. She leaves behind two children.
“She went through a lot in life, but she was finally trying to rebuild. Now her life’s been cut short, and her kids are without a mother,” Amarachi said.
Amarachi revealed that despite initial resistance from their grieving mother, he is now preparing to take legal action.
“My family is in profound pain. Since the owner of the house has refused to show concern, then let them face justice. Someone must be held accountable.”
He called on the Lagos State government and relevant authorities to launch a full investigation into the structural safety of the property and the conduct of the hospital and police officers involved.
Chizoba Oguzie will be laid to rest in Imo State on Friday, April 25, 2025. Her family continues to demand justice and accountability, hoping her tragic death would not be in vain.
“She was the second to the last of six children. Her death has left a hole in our hearts that can never be filled,” Amarachi said.
“We won’t rest until the truth comes out — and justice is served.”
© SaharaReporters
