But for the timely intervention of the bank management of Fidelity Bank by Ogbunabali, a taxi driver would have lost his eyes, thanks to an over-zealous Mopol man.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, April 3, 2012, along Ogbunabali- Garrison junction, Port Harcourt.
The Mopol attached to the bank allegedly sprayed tear gas directly at face of the taxi driver under the scorching sun and the heavy traffic..
According to the cab man who narrated his ordeal to The Newswriter, he came out of his car to inspect a damage done to his car by a fellow taxi driver, when the sad incident occurred.
He innocently dared the Mopol who was eager to protect his beat.
“My car was parked just as others as I was waiting to load passengers, when my fellow taxi driver hit my car,” he narrated.
“As I came down from my own vehicle to see the damage done to my car, the Mopol came out from the bank and asked me to drive my vehicle away from there otherwise, he would spray me with the tear gas. I humbly replied him to be patient as I could not overtake other vehicles that were on the queue with the distressing hold up. When he persisted and repeatedly vowed to spray me with the substance, I innocently, said ‘spray me since you want to’ and he immediately sprayed the substance directly into my eyes four times, simultaneously.”
The taxi driver said his eyes were immediately closed up and all he did say was “why have you done this to me? You have blinded me!”
Luck was however on his side as the bank management heard about the incident through one of the security officers. He was rushed to an eye centre at stadium Road, Rumuomasi, by the management where he received treatment and got his sight back after several hours and resumed duty on two days after. ###

By Angela Aniete