Widow Demands Justice as Lagos Police Probe Killing of Shop Owner by Natives of IJagemo 

Widow Demands Justice as Lagos Police Probe Killing of Shop Owner by Natives of IJagemo 

By Naomi Onome

A distraught widow, Blessing Nwachukwu, has appealed for justice over the killing of her husband, alleging that he was murdered by a group of individuals, including a police officer, over a land dispute.

We hereby bring to public attention a tragic incident that occurred on Friday evening in the Ijegun Ijagemo area of Lagos State, resulting in the death of a local shop owner known as Charles Chimezie Nwachukwu.

According to Mrs Nwachukwu, her husband was beaten to death in his shop by a group of people who had been threatening him and his family. She claimed that despite her pleas for help, the traditional ruler, referred to as High Chief Olateju Jimoh-Balogun, “Baale of Ijagemo Aworiland”, refused to intervene, allowing her husband to die.

“I went to him and said, ‘Your highness, come and help me, your highness. Come and see my husband is dying.’ He said, ‘Madam, please go and lock up that shop.’ I said, ‘Is the shop the problem? My husband is dying,'” Mrs Nwachukwu narrated.

The incident, which occurred in Ijagemo, has sparked outrage, with Mrs Nwachukwu calling for justice and protection for her family. She alleged that the attackers were motivated by a desire to take over their land and that they had been terrorising the area, selling drugs, and intimidating residents.

Mrs Nwachukwu claimed that her husband had bought the land from a man who had been living there for over 20 years, but that the buyer had seized the receipt and refused to return it, leaving them vulnerable to the attackers.

The police have been urged to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, Mrs Nwachukwu also has video evidence showing her husband’s attack and his last moments.

Eyewitness Report

According to eyewitness accounts involving one Mr Peter Agu, an altercation took place across the road from Mr Charles Chimezie Nwachukwu’s shop (the deceased), during which one individual was seriously injured and taken to a nearby hospital. While efforts were being made to restore calm, a man claiming to be a police officer, locally identified as “Olopa”, allegedly arrived at the scene and began assaulting individuals present, including a lady identified to be related to the initially injured young man.

The situation escalated, leading to unrest within the area. In an attempt to maintain peace, the late Charles intervened and requested that all forms of violence be taken away from his premises. During the ensuing commotion, he was reportedly pushed, fell, and sustained a severe head injury leading to his death.

He was initially taken to the hospital for medical attention but was later confirmed dead from time wasted before medical attention.

Community Leaders Urge Calm

An Igbo community leader disclosed that he was alerted to the incident shortly after it occurred, with reports that some Igbo youths were mobilising for a riot. He said he immediately contacted key community figures, including local leaders and chiefs, urging them to maintain peace and avoid any actions that could lead to destruction of property or escalation of violence.

According to him, members of the Igbo Buru Otu Association visited the house of the late Charles, where they met a crowd of concerned residents. The Igbo leader advised calm, emphasising that the police had already taken control of the situation. Authorities reportedly evacuated the victim’s body to the mortuary and have commenced an investigation into the murder.

The Igbo community leader stressed that the matter should be left in the hands of law enforcement, warning that any form of unrest could result in innocent individuals being arrested or implicated.

The Igbo community leader said he made efforts to meet with the high chief Olateju Jimoh-Balogun, the Baale of Ijagemo Aworiland, to obtain firsthand information about the incident. However, the baale was unavailable at the time, as he was attending a meeting in Iba.

While noting that he does not have full details of how the incident occurred, the leader maintained that his priority has been to ensure peace and prevent any retaliatory actions.

He added that the Baale had expressed concerns about ongoing issues in the community but advised that further clarification should come directly from the Baale of Ijagemo ruler since he was present at the scene of the crime.

Baale of Ijagemo Aworiland’s Role

The Baale of IJagemo, Aworiland, was visited by the Igbo leader and entourage to discuss the incident involving the Ijagemo community but met his absence. The Baale, High Chief Olateju Jimoh-Balogun, later granted a conversation via calls where he mentioned that he had been called the previous night during the attack leading to Mr Charles’ death and asked to maintain peace. The Baale also said he visited the scene with 15 people to restore calm contrary to the situation as described by the late Charles’ wife.

However, the Igbo leader questioned the Baale on allegations made by the widow against him, including land grabbing and threats. The Igbo leader noted that the essence of his visit, which was met with Baale’s absence, is to get clarification about these allegations made by the widow, assumed to be the reason for the Baale’s defiance when late Charles’ wife begged him to allow the free passage of her late husband to the hospital for immediate medical attention.

More Accounts

Meanwhile, Dr Anthony Nwaeze Onyiyechukwu-Kachukwu, Obi Ndigbo 1 of IJagemo JP Obi of IJagemo, spoke extensively on the reoccurrence of intimidation and poor treatment meted out to Igbos living in the IJagemo axis in recent years. Summary of Incident Report

Dr Anthony reported the violent incident that occurred on Friday evening (Salah day) between 8:30 pm and 9:00 pm. He was alerted by a woman who claimed that a group of Yoruba men had attacked her husband’s beer parlour and killed him.

Upon arriving at the scene, he observed a large crowd and extensive destruction, including damage to the shop and its roof. Witnesses explained to him that the conflict began across the road where a fight broke out involving a woman. Someone intervened to stop the altercation and later returned to the beer parlour, where the same woman joined him. He bought her a drink, and shortly after, a man identified as Samuel—known locally as a driver but allegedly posing as a police officer—entered and began assaulting the woman.

When questioned, Samuel reportedly ignored objections, but the shop owner, late Charles, intervened, asking those involved (the said woman and Samuel) not to extend their altercations to his own shop space, as he was not part of their disagreement. Samuel, aka Olopa, who didn’t take the statement from the late Charles, likely allegedly pushed Charles, leading to a fall and striking his head on ground tiles and leading to his death. Meanwhile, Charles’ son, who then protested the incident, was also attacked by a group of about 15 individuals and severely beaten. He is currently hospitalised with internal bleeding, Dr Anthony added.

Dr Obi further alleged that this was part of ongoing harassment against Igbo residents in the area by individuals claiming to be “omo onile” (landowners), who insist that non-indigenes have no rights there. He stated that threats have been made against the Igbo community, warning of further violence if they speak out.

He called on the government and relevant authorities to intervene, ensure justice for the victims, and protect the rights and safety of Igbo residents in the area.

Nigeria Police Intervention

The police authorities are yet to release an official statement as investigations continue.

The individual alleged to have instigated further violence has reportedly been arrested and is currently in custody at Isheri Police Station.

A Call for Justice

The family of the deceased respectfully call on the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incident and confirm the identity and status of the individual claiming to be a police officer. Ensure that all those found culpable are brought to justice.

The Igbo leaders also urge members of the Igbo-speaking community to remain calm and law-abiding as investigations proceed to ensure justice prevails.