There was unease at Oluwoye community in
Ibeshe, Ikorodu area of Lagos on Friday after an assailant suspected to
belong to a gang of rapists in the area, killed a 30-year-old pregnant
woman Afusat Yusuf, and stabbed her husband, Kazeem Yusuf. The man is
now in a coma.
Ibeshe, Ikorodu area of Lagos on Friday after an assailant suspected to
belong to a gang of rapists in the area, killed a 30-year-old pregnant
woman Afusat Yusuf, and stabbed her husband, Kazeem Yusuf. The man is
now in a coma.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that the rapist also inflicted injuries on the couple’s two kids – Rodiat and Opeyemi, aged six and five respectively.
It was gathered that the attacker had
gained access to the couple’s apartment around 2am on Friday through the
window and attempted to rape Afusat.
gained access to the couple’s apartment around 2am on Friday through the
window and attempted to rape Afusat.
The woman’s husband, Kazeem, was said to
be awake in the process and reportedly resisted the rapist, who
resorted to hacking him and their two kids with a machete.
be awake in the process and reportedly resisted the rapist, who
resorted to hacking him and their two kids with a machete.
Not done, the suspect went to a
neighbouring building and unleashed terror on another couple,
52-year-old Sunday Robert and his wife, whose name had yet to be
ascertained. The suspect subsequently fled the area.
neighbouring building and unleashed terror on another couple,
52-year-old Sunday Robert and his wife, whose name had yet to be
ascertained. The suspect subsequently fled the area.
While Afusat died on the spot, Kazeem
and the children were rushed to the Ikorodu General Hospital, where they
are still receiving treatment.
and the children were rushed to the Ikorodu General Hospital, where they
are still receiving treatment.
The incident was reported at the Ipakodo Police Division.
A resident, who identified himself
simply as Adisa, lamented the spate of attacks on residents of Ibeshe
community and its environs, saying the government had not made
significant moves to address the attacks.
simply as Adisa, lamented the spate of attacks on residents of Ibeshe
community and its environs, saying the government had not made
significant moves to address the attacks.
He said, “There have been series of
attacks by this gang of rapists on residents at different parts of
Ibeshe. Several women have been raped and killed. Female children were
also molested.
attacks by this gang of rapists on residents at different parts of
Ibeshe. Several women have been raped and killed. Female children were
also molested.
“Around 2am today (Friday), a member of
the gang attacked two houses. In the first house, he hacked a pregnant
woman, Afusat, to death and seriously injured her husband and their two
children. He inflicted a cut on Rodiat’s ear and smashed an object on
Opeyemi’s mouth. He also attacked a couple in another building. They
have been taken to a hospital.
the gang attacked two houses. In the first house, he hacked a pregnant
woman, Afusat, to death and seriously injured her husband and their two
children. He inflicted a cut on Rodiat’s ear and smashed an object on
Opeyemi’s mouth. He also attacked a couple in another building. They
have been taken to a hospital.
“Residents are moving out of the
community because there is no solution in sight to these attacks. Those
of us who do not have anywhere to run to are living in fear. The
government has not come to our aid despite our outcry.”
community because there is no solution in sight to these attacks. Those
of us who do not have anywhere to run to are living in fear. The
government has not come to our aid despite our outcry.”
A community leader, who spoke on
condition of anonymity for fear of being hunted by the gang, said the
community had petitioned the Lagos State Government without getting
meaningful results.
condition of anonymity for fear of being hunted by the gang, said the
community had petitioned the Lagos State Government without getting
meaningful results.
He said, “We need the government’s help
in Ibeshe. We have gone to the governor’s office to make complaints but
there is no response yet. We also met with the Senior Special Assistant
to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Community Affairs.
in Ibeshe. We have gone to the governor’s office to make complaints but
there is no response yet. We also met with the Senior Special Assistant
to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Community Affairs.
“We want the government to unmask the gang members and those who are using them. This community lacks security.”
Another resident, Dele Olayiwola, said,
“A member of the gang, Badoo, who was arrested had been charged to a
Magistrate’s Court in Surulere by the police without notifying us. How
are we sure that the case will be diligently prosecuted when people who
will testify in court were not informed?”
“A member of the gang, Badoo, who was arrested had been charged to a
Magistrate’s Court in Surulere by the police without notifying us. How
are we sure that the case will be diligently prosecuted when people who
will testify in court were not informed?”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations
Officer, Dolapo Badmos, said the command was already on the trail of the
suspect, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, had
directed the homicide section of the command to investigate the case.
Officer, Dolapo Badmos, said the command was already on the trail of the
suspect, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, had
directed the homicide section of the command to investigate the case.
She said, “The division received a
distress call in the early hours of Friday that a family had been
attacked by unknown men . The DPO of the Ipakodo divsion led a team to
the area where the corpse of the victim was taken to a morgue. Her
husband and their two kids, who were also attacked, were rushed to a
hospital where they are undergoing treatment. One Sunday Robert was also
injured in a separate building.”
distress call in the early hours of Friday that a family had been
attacked by unknown men . The DPO of the Ipakodo divsion led a team to
the area where the corpse of the victim was taken to a morgue. Her
husband and their two kids, who were also attacked, were rushed to a
hospital where they are undergoing treatment. One Sunday Robert was also
injured in a separate building.”