Posted by By Peter Anosike on
The joy of a family in Iba new estate over the forthcoming wedding of their son was recently replaced with sorrow when the patriarch, a 61-year-old landlord, was killed over N200 levy.
The joy of a family in Iba new estate over the forthcoming wedding of their son was recently replaced with sorrow when the patriarch, a 61-year-old landlord, was killed over N200 levy.
Daily Sun gathered that Mr. Joseph Ogide was beaten to death by security guards, who had stormed his No 27 Chimik Street, Iba new site to collect the said levy.
According to David Ogide, the deceased's son, who was scheduled to wed two day ahead, trouble started on July 26 when the chairman of Iba new site Community Development Association, and four members of the vigilance group that guards the area came to their home and demanded the sum of N200 from his father.
He said that the money was suppose to be a security levy, adding that his father told them to come back another time. He revealed that his father told the party to come back because lanlords in the area had decided not to pay the security dues.
"When my father told them that, the chairman of the Community Development Association told him that if he did not pay the money, something would happen. My father then asked why he was threatening him in his own house. Immediately, one of the members of the the vigilance group that came with him pounced on my father and dragged him out of the veranda and they began to beat him until he slumped."
Ogide said that when his father slumped and became motionless, his assailants fled, adding that the family tried to rivive him to no avail. They had taken the landlord to the hospital where he was certified dead.
"I could not believe it, but the doctor told me that medically he had been certified dead. We tried to take him to the mortuary, but it was difficult as it was late in the night," he revealed.
He said that the family lodged a report at Isashi police station, in Ojo, Local government Area, Lagos after which the police arrested relations of the prime suspects who had fled by then. The case, together with those arrested were transferred to the SCID, Panti. The suspects were however released on bail.
Ogide had written a pitition to Zone 2 command, leading to the rearrest of the suspects earlier granted bail.
"After I had written the petition, I was given five policemen who picked the suspects again. By then, the chairman of the Community Development Association was also arrested and taken to Zone 2.
The police Zone 2 Public Relations Officer, Mr. Lekan Ogumdare (ASP), confirmed the incident, adding that it was still being investigated by the command. He said that the case has been transferred to the zonal command from the SCID Panti.
Ogundare said the suspects could only be granted bail on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (BPP).