A two-year-old boy, Eniola Ajakaye, has drowned inside a drum of water while holidaying with his grandmother in Aboru, in the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos State.

Punch Metro learnt that the police arrested the victim’s father, Sunday Ajakaye, a mechanic, and Sunday’s 65-year-old mother, after the boy’s mother, Mary, accused them of complicity in the death. They were reportedly detained at the Oke Odo Police Division for alleged murder.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Eniola drowned around 2pm on Foursquare Street, Ago 40 Estate, where his grandma lived.

He said, “The woman had gone out for a church programme, leaving him with some other children who had come to holiday with her.

“She was called on the telephone that the boy was missing. People searched for him for hours without any success.

“When it was evening, a woman said she saw something inside a water drum in the house. “When they checked the drum, they found Eniola there.”

The boy was reportedly taken to a private hospital in the area where he was confirmed dead.

Another resident, Jide Thompson, said the family took the dead child back to the house and invited some pastors to bring him back to life, adding that all the effort was in vain.

It was learnt that Mary’s family did not believe the account of the grandmother as they insisted that there was more to the death than meet the eye, adding that the Ajakaye family had a case to answer.

The police subsequently arrested the grandma, Sunday and another relative who reportedly raised the alarm when the boy went missing.

Investigation by Punch correspondent showed that there had been bad blood between the two families since Mary became pregnant with Eniola.

Punch correspondent learnt from a source that Sunday had rejected Eniola’s pregnancy.

He said, “The man is a mechanic and can barely fend for himself. When Mary, his lover, became pregnant, he rejected the pregnancy.

“When Eniola was born, Sunday’s mother took the responsibility for his upkeep and was always sending money to Mary’s family.” The source explained that the grandma later took custody of the child after a major disagreement, adding that Mary returned some weeks later to take back the child.

“However, Mary called the woman one day, saying she was returning Eniola to the grandma.

“The girl took the child to the woman’s church and dropped him there. The grandma picked the child from the church and handed over to the police station,” he added. The police allegedly called the two families and gave custody of the child to the father.

It was learnt that the grandma handed over the child to her first child, who became his guardian.

Punch Metro was told that the guardian had brought him back to the grandma, along with some other children of the family, for holiday when tragedy struck.

A relative told Punch correspondent that the grandma was devastated when the boy was found in the drum.

“She invited pastors to pray for the child, but nothing happened. When it was getting late, around 10pm, we reported the matter to the police and after making statements, the corpse was deposited in a morgue,” he added.

He explained that after much persuasion Mary’s mother dropped the case against the family. He, however, expressed surprise that the police were taking up the matter again.

A police source said the police had closed the case file when Mary’s mother demanded that the matter be revived.

The source said, “The primary issue is that the two families are at loggerheads. After asking that the case be withdrawn, Mary’s mother said her family went to take the boy’s clothes and was told that they had been burnt and there was nothing left of the boy’s property. She said the man’s family knew about the death for being in haste to forget the victim.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the boy’s corpse was in the mortuary pending the release of the autopsy report.

She said, “It is a case of sudden and unnatural death.

– Punch

A twenty-five year-old man, Matthew Iyede, has been stabbed to death by three friends due to a disagreement over a ‘girlfriend’ at Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday morning at a popular bar, Blue Sea Restaurant and Bar, in Eku near Delta State University Abraka.

Eyewitnesses told Southern City News that the victim died as a result of the injuries he sustained on his chest after he was stabbed several times.

It was learnt that the late Matthew was ambushed by armed youths alleged to have been led by one Ese Uku.
Uku was alleged to have warned the victim to stay away from the woman, who was identified to be the person Matthew had been dating.

The victim’s relative, Victor Iyede, confirmed the attack to Southern City News on the phone, claiming that his brother was killed over a woman he (Matthew) had been dating.

He said, “I don’t reside in Eku. He was stabbed at a plaza close to Eku Town Hall. He was stabbed over a ‘girl’. Those involved are at large. Names of the suspected murderers have been submitted to the police.”

The spokesman of the Delta State Police Command, Celestina Kalu, confirmed the incident when contacted, saying two of the suspects had been arrested by the police in Abraka.

“The vigilante group in collaboration with the police arrested two suspects in connection with the case. The names of the suspects are Kevwe Edward (21yrs) and Lucky Grant (19yrs). The suspects will be transferred to SCIIDC for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution.

She added that the corpse had been deposited at the Eku General Hospital pending further investigation by the police.

Four ritualists were allegedly arrested with fresh human hearts in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun state.

The suspects Nurudeen Adeniyi, 34, Tunde Banjo, 29, Temitope Alaba 20, and Tobi Olukoya , 20, all confessed to commiting the crime. The suspects said their victim- a young lady, was brought from Ago Iwoye area.

When the lady was resisting sexual advances from them, they hit her with a charm and she couldn’t say anything again. Read their confessions below;

Nurudeen Adeniyi, 34, suspect.

Nurudeen Adeniyi is my name, I am 34 years old. I am selling cement and rice and I am an Alfa.

I told him (Banjo) that I need human heart and he said he has a man that can get it for him.

I just take the delivery of this one (hearts) and I have collected two pieces two years ago.

I am not the person that used the one I collected two years ago, the person that used that one is dead now.

I want to use the parts for eyonu, ebe a won agba.

I regret my actions and I want Nigerians to forgive me.

Tunde Banjo, 29, herbalist, suspect.

This my brother asked me that he needs breast and ‘TOTO’ (female genitals) and one day I was playing in my house and I see this guy with his friend and I told them that one of my brothers need this thing and he said he could get it for me.

He called me one day that he has seen a lady. I was not there when they killed her o but she was killed in my (herbalist) office.

Temitope Alaba 20, suspect

“I was there when they killed the girl but I wasn’t the one that killed her. I am an herbalist apprentice.

The girl was killed with a knife.

It was Tobi and ‘Asa’ (nickname) that killed the girl. They brought her from Ago Iwoye area.

When the lady was resisting sexual advances from them, they hit her with a charm and she couldn’t say anything again.

Tobi Olukoya , 20, suspect

I was outside, I don’t know how pepe and Tope killed her.

They told me they needed women breast and private part and if I could lure a girl to their place, they would give me 30 thousand naira.

But they only gave me 500 naira to go and eat after the operation.

I picked them from Ago garade.

Commissioner of Police Ahmed Iliyasu has confirmed the incident;

“You can see a recession of human being back to cannibalism and we would not allow that, that is why when out operatives got this information, we quickly swung into action and rounded them up.

We have interviewed them. That is bestial and we cannot allow that. We have carried out our constitutional duties by arresting them,” he said.

Definitely, the right procedure will be taken and they would be charged to court for prosecution.

Nobody will hide under any guise to perpetrate any criminal act in the state and go free, we will definitely get at him. We have our various tactical deployment, we have our covert operations and we are picking them up,” he said.

Ivie Edobor, a Mother of three, took to her Facebook wall to accuse her husband, John Edobor, of attacking her after they went they separated ways following their failed marriage.

She wrote:

Dear friend, To shed more light on my ordeal, this is my story. Two years ago my husband kick me out of his house along with my 3 daughters ages 9, 7 and 4.

I was forced to move back to my father’s house and struggled to provide for my 3 children as he completely neglected them and even took them of his medical insurance provided by his office Zenith Bank Plc.

After much struggle, I finally got back on my feet. Got a great job, enrolled my kids in a new school and rented an apartment for my 3 kids and I.

About Easter time this year he decides he was to be part of my children’s life again. I allowed him access to the children as I felt we could be civil to each other for the sake of our children. At this time I had started putting my documentation together for the divorce process.

Early hours of June 19th on my way back from a function, a friend had parked right in front of the gate of my apartment to press the bell for the gateman to open the gate and let me into the compound when suddenly he was rushed at and attacked by a man waving an object.

The first impression was that it was an armed robber trying to rob us. My friend(a man) pushed he away but he came charging back; at this point I looked out the opened door and realized it was John Edobor my enstrange husband. Before we could react a group of area boys showed up but rather than saving us from the assailant, they joined him.

The proceeded to be my friend on the floor giving John the opportunity to focus his attack on me. He used a metal bar(wheel spanner/ metal rod) to try hitting me on the head through the opened drivers door but I shielded it. Not satisfied with that, he turned to the passengers door dragged out to the floor. I landed on the floor with my legs extended where he proceeded to hit me on the leg continuously with the metal.

When he was satisfied he was about going back to join the area boys who had gathered my friend when my neighbour who had heard my screams for help and seen from his window a man striking someone on the floor thinking it was an armed robber, numbed down his balcony with a machete to save whoever was being attacked.

On getting down he was faced with my enstrange husband whom he had prevented from entering my compound without my permission on 2 occasions so he recognised him.

It was at that point he overpowered John. The area boys recognised him as a member of the security team for the street and backed off my friend.

By that time I couldn’t stand up and my leg was bleeding profusely. I was rushed to the hospital where my jeans was torn off my leg to see the nature of my injury. The injury was so severe that my broken bone torn through my skin puncturing an artery in the process.

Almost 3months and 2 surgeries later, I have titanium plates and screws to keep my leg in place and I am unable to use my right leg. I still have my 3 children to care for and my life is at a stand still. The perpetuator was charged to court and released on bail 3 days later. Now he moves around freely carrying on with his life. Now is it wrong for me to cry for Justice.