Truck kills woman trekking to church in Lagos

Man stabs cousin to death over N500
A woman, Amaka Iheme, trekking to church yesterday was reported crushed by a ‘callous’ driver at Abati Barracks area of Ojuelegba, Lagos State. The Lagos State police spokesman, Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who confirmed the incident noted that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary.

According to Elkana, “At about 12:10p.m. along Western Avenue, opposite Abalti Barracks, there was a fatal motor accident involving a Mercedes truck with registration number SMK 356 XC driven by one Seyi Olayiwola of No. 2, Ali Street, Owode, Idiroko, Ogun State, who rammed into one Amaka Iheme of No. 18, Banjo Street off Tejuosho Surulere, who was trekking to the church.

“The woman died on the spot. The driver has been arrested and vehicle recovered by the police. The body has been deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba,” he said.

A Nigerian who reacted to the incident blamed government for not implementing the Lagos State laws on night movement of trucks. According to a man who wanted to remain anonymous, “there is a law in Lagos that these trucks should move only at night. What are Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) doing to implement these laws?”

In another development, a 26-year-old man, whose name was simply identified as Chidiebere, at the weekend in Aba, stabbed his cousin, identified as Chisom, aged 27, to death over N500.

Chisom, until his death last Friday, reportedly lived with his aunt (Chidiebere’s mother) who operates an eatery in the Ogbor Hill axis of Aba and was said to have shared the same room with his assailant.

It was gathered that on Thursday last week, Chisom’s aunt had gone to the market to buy things and asked the deceased to take charge of business while she was away. Immediately the mother went out, Chidiebere was reported to have entered into the shop and demanded that Chisom should give him N500 he learnt someone who owed the mother had paid.

The deceased was reported to have refused to give his cousin the money, insisting it was for his mother.
Chidiebere was said to have insisted the money must be given to him and after a heated argument, the deceased capitulated and gave his cousin the money.

When eventually Chidiebere’s mother came back from the market, Chisom was said to have narrated to her what happened.

A source close to the family said Chidiebere who became infuriated on why his mother was informed of the development, vowed to deal with his cousin.
The source further stated that the deceased did not take the threat as anything serious and in the night, after supper, they went to bed.

At about 1:00a.m. Chidiebere was said to have awoken, reached for a dagger he hid somewhere in the room and stabbed his cousin who was fast asleep, close to the heart twice.

The incident was said to have happened around Ebiogwu street, Ogbor Hill and as neighbours managed to bring the badly injured Chisom to a clinic in the Federal Housing Estate, a doctor at the clinic pronounced him dead.

After stabbing his cousin to death, Chidiebere went back to their house to sleep not minding the consequences of his action. It was while he was still sleeping that youths from the Federal Housing Estate stormed the house, apprehended and later handed him over to the police at the Azuka police station.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was not available for comment, but a senior police officer who would not want his name mentioned, confirmed the incident and said the matter has been transferred to Umuahia.