BENIN CITY – Alcohol-drinking  contest has claimed one life while two others hospitalised in Benin City.
It was learnt that the deceased, Famous Ogbeide, 25 and three others engaged themselves in a drinking competition of different brand of hot drinks during their friend’s father’s burial.
The tragedy ocurred at Okhuarobo Street, Off Saint Savour Road, Benin City.
Sources disclosed that one of the youths who was inside the canopy provided for friends and well-wishers of the bereaved children, initiated the drinking-competition.
It was gathered that as soon as the plan was hatched, the youths raised money, bought some bottles of hot drinks from a nearby store as they began to mix and consume the intoxicating contents.
The victim allegedly managed to stagger out of the venue and collapsed by the road-side after guzzling large volume of the mixed liquors.
He was said to have emerged winner in the first and second rounds of the contest, but failed to collect his prize of four thousand Naira after dying in a hospital.
It was also gathered that one of them pulled out of the contest immediately he gulped his forth glass which resulted in his coughing and vomiting.
The two others said to be battling to save their lives were rushed to a hospital when they lost coherence and became very weak to stand.
The NIGERIAN OBSERVER investigation revealed that the police in Benin City have arrested a son of the man (name withheld) during whose burial, the unfortunate incidence happened.
It was further scooped that the arrested man, Emma Guobadia arrived Nigeria from Malasia, a day to his father’s funeral.
He was alleged to have invited the late Famous Ogbeide said to be his childhood friend to the afternoon burial.
Family of Emma Guobadia, however, denied ever inviting the deceased, saying that he attended their father’s burial because the late Famous and his parents once lived in a rented apartment opposite their family house in Okhuarobo Street.
Mother of late Famous stated that her son told her that he was attending a burial of his friend’s father when she was later informed that he died.
She said that her son was an ‘alumaco’ apprentice and that his father died last December.
Attempt to reach the survivors of the drinking-contest failed as no one volunteered information as to how they could be reached.
Confirming the sad occurrence which took place about a forthnight ago, the Public Relations Officer, Edo State Police Command, DSP Joseph Edoigiawerie disclosed that the case is now being handled by the homicide session in the state police command headquarters, Benin City.