Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have rescued an unidentified middle-aged man who was discovered unconscious by the roadside along Oby Okoli Avenue, close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Temporary Site in Awka.
According to The Punch, the incident, which happened on Wednesday, drew the attention of motorists and pedestrians, with traffic slowing as drivers manoeuvred around the man lying motionless by the roadside.
A shop owner in the area said many residents and passers-by hesitated to approach the victim because they were unsure of his condition, leaving him lying face down until police officers on patrol intervened.
“He was walking by the roadside when he suddenly collapsed and lay face down. While some people were afraid to go near him, others suspected he might have been under the influence of drugs or suffering from epilepsy or high blood pressure.
“He remained motionless for some time, causing vehicles to slow down to avoid hitting him. Police operatives on routine patrol later arrived, carried out preliminary checks and evacuated him to a nearby hospital,” the eyewitness said.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Thursday, saying officers attached to B Division rescued the victim during a routine patrol.
He noted that initial assessments indicated the man might have been under the influence of hard drugs.
He said, “The Anambra State Police Command, in furtherance of its Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices and sustained commitment to public safety, has rescued an unidentified middle-aged man who was found unconscious, allegedly under the influence of hard drugs, in Awka.
“The victim was discovered by police operatives attached to B Division during a midday patrol on July 15, 2026, around Oby Okoli Avenue, UNIZIK Temporary Site, Awka.
“He was lying unconscious by the roadside with no visible signs of struggle or injuries suggestive of violence.
“The operatives immediately evacuated the victim to the Police Hospital in Awka, where he is currently receiving treatment. A search conducted on him did not reveal any means of identification or a mobile phone that could assist in tracing his identity or relatives.
“Preliminary assessment suggests that the victim may have been under the influence of hard drugs. However, efforts are ongoing to identify him and notify his family members.”
Ikenga cautioned members of the public about the dangers associated with substance abuse and drug addiction, particularly among young people.
He added that the command’s Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices would continue to prioritise preventive policing through sustained advocacy, public enlightenment and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to tackle drug abuse, cultism and other social vices.
He also assured that further information regarding the victim’s identity would be made available as investigations continue.
