A 39-year-old taxi driver identified as Tunde Odutola was on Sunday at Onipanu Bus Stop in Ikorodu area of Lagos State was beaten to death over a sitting space at a local dry gin shop.
It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 9pm when the deceased after parking his car, bought food from a local food vendor and ordered for a sachet of dry gin.
Trouble started after he ordered the daughter of the drinking joint owner, Esther to vacate her seat for him. The daughter however declined, leading to an ensuing squabble.
Out of rage, the deceased was said to have attacked one Taju Adeboye, a customer who uses crutches who was trying to mediate between Odutola and the girl. The deceased’s action led to a serious confrontation and a fight broke out between those around and the deceased in which he lost his life.
Two suspects, Friday Williams and Lucky Aneto, are said to have been apprehended by the police in connection with the incident.
While recounting what led to the death of Odutola, one of the suspects, Friday Williams, 41 and a barber from Uromi in Edo State said, “I went to the bus stop at about 8am on Sunday to buy a sachet of dry gin from a local vendor. I was there when Tunde, the taxi driver, came.
“He also bought a gin. Later he ordered for a plate of Eba from a food vendor. Immediately he was served, he asked Esther, thedaughter of the woman who sells drinks at the bus stop, to vacate her seat so he could sit and eat, but she refused.
“Tunde started abusing her until she began to cry. People cautioned him, but he attacked a man on crutches and then I intervened. He slapped and rained blows on me.
“I left the joint and was going home when I met my brother, Lucky Aneto. I was explaining what happened, when Tunde Odutola came after me.
“After Aneto’s intervention, Odutola gave me N500 to treat myself and I left.”
The other suspect, a 33-year-old Lucky Aneto, a father of one, on his part said, “I am a commercial bike operator. I was working when I saw Friday with injuries all over his body. I asked him if he had suffered his usual epileptic seizure. He said no, that he was beaten by a taxi driver.
“He was still explaining the incident when the taxi driver attempted to attack him again. I threatened to deflate his car’s tyres if he refused to take Friday to the hospital.
“I left both of them, while they were negotiating as I had to take a passenger to his destination. By the time I returned, the corpse of the taxi driver was lying on the roadside.
“I am innocent. One Tope is among the people that attacked the man, but he is currently on the run.”
While confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, said a complaint in that regard was earlier lodged at the Onipanu Divisional Police Station, adding that the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti is currently investigating the issue.
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