‘Please, come out of hiding, we have forgiven you’

Police continue manhunt for Lekan
Shonde for allegedly killing his wife, Ronke

Family of the deceased Ronke Shonde has pleaded with the husband and alleged killer of their daughter, Lekan to come out of hiding and end the drama, as they have already forgiven him for the murderous act.

They made this known during the visit of women rights activist and president of Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, yesterday to the family home of the deceased.

According to Okei-Odumakin, “during my visit to the bereaved family, they are much worried that since the incident happened, the husband couldn’t be traced as his phones are switched off. Though police efforts are on to get him, the family told me they have forgiven Lekan, but he should simply come out and put an end to this drama,” she said.

However, the Lagos State Police Command has continued its search for Mr. Lekan Shonde, who allegedly killed his wife, Ronke in their home at Egbeda in Lagos in the early hours of Friday.

The manhunt was confirmed by the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), who revealed that the matter had been transferred to the Department of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

Sketchy details have emerged on how the middle-aged man strangled his wife to death. Some neighbours told The Guardian that the deceased met her death from the hands of her husband after a heated argument that later turned physical.

It was gathered that Lekan and Ronke had consistently engaged in physical brawls and in most cases, “Lekan would beat her blue and black”, said a neighbour, who refused to reveal his identity for security reasons.

“In some instances, the woman would come out with black eyes, leaving us to wonder what kind of family life the two were living.”

Lekan was said to have descended on Ronke, allegedly strangled her to death, and fled the scene leaving behind their two children in the house.

After an alarm was raised by the family’s nanny, who reported for duty on Friday morning, neighbours were forced to break down the doors of the deceased’s flat due to loud cries of the children.

Blood was said to be oozing from the nostrils of Ronke when her body was discovered. There were also bruises on her. Ronke was said to be an employee of Guaranty Trust Bank until she was sacked recently before she went into the business of selling clothes.

According to the police image-maker, “Marks of violence” were found on Ronke’s body, suggesting that she was murdered in cold blood. “Yes, I confirm the incident. The landlady reported it on Friday at about 8:00a.m. She said at about 7:00a.m., she heard the screaming of Mrs. Ronke Shonde’s children, who was one of her tenants, as they couldn’t find the key to open their door from inside.

“When the door was forced open from outside, the lifeless body of the victim was found on the floor. Police operatives visited the scene and the corpse was removed and deposited at the Isolo General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.”

Badmos said that Lekan still remains at large and all efforts to reach him had yet to prove fruitful, as all his phones had been switched off.

She, however, assured that “effort is on to get him”.

“The command would certainly get to the root of the case. The case has been transferred to the homicide section of the SCID for discreet investigation,” she added.