There was pandemonium in Benin on Tuesday, as a 75-year-old pensioner, Sunday Oboite, collapsed and died while waiting on queue for screening at the Oredo local government council.
Sources at the local government council disclosed that the council which called for the screening, is owing the pensioners nine months pension arrears.
It was gathered that when the late Oboite collapsed on the queue, other pensioners, especially women, scampered in different directions around the popular and ever busy Ring Road where the council is located.
Efforts by the few male pensioners and council officials who mustered boldness to assist the victim failed to revive him as he died on the spot.
Commenting on the incident, the Secretary of Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oredo local government area chapter, Sunday Erumwunse, attributed the death of the late pensioner to starvation that might have resulted from non payment of their pension arrears.
He called on the authorities of the local government council to expedite action and pay up the pensioners to forestall further deaths.
One of the pensioners, Pa John Eweka, who was saddened by the death of his late colleague, said, “I believe he died of hunger. They are not paying us and many of us find it difficult to feed.
Pa Eweka called on the government to assist the family of the deceased with money for his funeral.
Efforts made to speak the chairman of Oredo local government council, Ms Sweet Ikpomwosa, failed, as she refused to speak with journalists.
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