A suspected robber on Tuesday plunged into the canal below the bridge between Nyanya and Karu Junction in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The man simply identified as Tochukwu, however, denied that he is a robber.
The plunge into the canal drew the attention of passers-by, commuters and motorists, who were on their way to work, thereby causing severe gridlock on the Abuja-Keffi road.
Speaking with a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after he was taken out of the canal, the young man said that he was an indigene of Obogwu, a town in Imo state.
He also said that he worked with a road transport company located in Jabi, Abuja.
At the Karu Divisional Head Quarters of the Police, where the victim was taken to in a Toyota Hilux van after he was rescued, an authoritative source told NAN that after the man could not talk much considering the injury he had sustained on the face and legs.
The young man was later transported to the Nyanya General Hospital but was rejected by the officials there due to lack of bed space.
According to the source, the young man was then referred to the Asokoro District Hospital where he received medical attention.
When NAN correspondent visited the Accident and Emergency Section of the hospital in Asokoro, the young man could be seen being treated by some medical personnel with three police officers interrogating him.
When asked: “Did you go and rob someone?” by one of the policemen, he said: “No’’.
On sighting the NAN reporter in the emergency ward, one of the police officers interrogating the young man ordered him to leave the place immediately.
Responding, the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, DSP Anjuguri Mamzah, told NAN that the matter had not been officially reported to him at the time of writing this report.
