Panic in Lagos community over mysterious death of widow, 4 childrenon October 08, 2014 October 1,2014 was supposed to be a day of joy, being the 54th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence and the first day of the month. But for residents of Itamaga in the Ikorodu axis of Lagos State, it turned out to be a very tragic day that would not be forgotten in a hurry. On that fateful Wednesday, residents of the community woke up with the frightening news that a widow and her four sons had been found dead in their uncompleted apartment. Although the police and traditional rulers in the area have begun investigations into what led to the unfortunate incident at Prince Kunle Owoade Close, residents of the community are yet to come to terms with what actually caused the deaths. Vanguard Metro, VM, learnt that the deceased whose names and ages were given as Kunle 21, Bayo 17, Pelumi 15 and Daniel 12, had lived in the community for the past four years with their widowed mother who until her death, was a patent medicine dealer in the Shomolu area of Lagos State. VM further gathered that while Pelumi attended the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Grace House, Province 33, his mother and Daniel attended a nearby Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry, MFM. VM was told that the deceased who originally hailed from Osun State, also had two months after moving into the building, lost their father, also in very tragic circumstances. Neighbours told VM that the deceased widow prepared dinner for her family penultimate Friday before switching on the generator to go to bed. The late Daniel and her mother allegedly slept in one room while the other three slept in another. But that was all the neighbours could say about them. Eyewitness accounts claimed that the deceased were not seen between Saturday and Tuesday. According to them they thought that the deceased had travelled until an offensive odour started oozing out from their compound. VM learnt that eyebrows were raised late Tuesday evening by members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, whose Church is located in a nearby building, could not withstand the foul odour from Pelumi’s house. After their “Digging Deep” programme, the curious church members decided to trace the source of the offensive odour. To their greatest surprise, they found all the windows and doors locked while their only tenant, a lady, had gone out for the day’s business. A generator was also found in the yet to be plastered sitting room. The bewildered church members, VM learnt, later called neighbours for their assistance. These neighbours allegedly made fruitless attempts to get in touch with the Lagos State Emergency Service. Having waited till 10pm without any response, the residents allegedly called the Police who also failed to respond to the save-our-soul, SOS, calls. When the waiting game did not yield the expected results, the neighbours decided to break into the building. To their greatest dismay, they found four sons of the widow already dead while their mother was half-dead after defecating on her body. A team of Police men were said to have arrived around the scene at about 3am but turned back after warning the sympathisers to desist from rendering any form of assistance as the death could be caused by the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. Having waited till 8am, the sympathisers called a hotelier in the neighbourhood who alerted health officials at Ebute Metta. The health officials arrived the scene around 10am but by this time, Mrs Asunmu’s condition had degenerated; she died on her way to the hospital. When VM visited the compound, the bodies had already been taken to the morgue. But the aggrieved residents decried the lackadaisical attitude of the health officials, alleging that they demanded for a sum of N10,000 before the bodies were removed. VM learnt that one of the deceased, Pelumi attended Ewu-Elepe High School, while Kunle and Daniel were said to have been seen at a nearby hotel around 8pm of that fateful Friday. Although a community leader, Pastor Francis Okon, said that normalcy has returned to the area, VM discovered that residents are still apprehensive because the cause of death has not be ascertained. One of the residents, Mr Nurudeen Olayiwola, called on the government to ensure that the emergency numbers are working as this would help to avert the occurrence of an ugly situation like this pathetic death.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 06:25:53 +0000
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