A twenty-five-year-old
Owechu operated under the aegis of the Articulate Motorcyclists Owners and Riders
Association of Nigeria, Iyana Iyesi branch, in the Ado- Odo Ota Local
Government Area of Ogun State.
The 20-year-old suspected
murderer, Abdulrahman Muhammed, has thrown the family of a commercial
motorcyclist, Owechu Odeje, into mourning after he allegedly slit the okada
rider’s throat.
PUNCH Metro learnt that
Owechu was taking Muhammed from Ijaba junction to Ijaba Pipeline, a
neighbouring community to Iyana Iyesi, when the latter reportedly killed him
and fled with the motorcycle, leaving him in a pool of blood.
The suspect fled to Iju,
another neighbouring community, where he was eventually arrested by the police.
The deceased’s elder
brother, Clement Odeje, said he was too sad to speak on the incident.
A relative, Emmanuel
Omajowu, demanded that the suspect should face the full weight of the law,
saying Owechu’s death had devastated his parents and the entire family.
He said, “Around 10am last
Tuesday, he was taking the Hausa man (Muhammed) from Ijaba junction to Ijaba
Pipeline. The place is a developing area and it is usually deserted. They were
on the way when he suddenly brought out a knife and slit Owechu’s throat.The
killer escaped with the motorcycle.
“Owechu’s death is a big
blow to the family. He was friendly and generous. We want the police to
prosecute the case diligently and let justice be done.”
A resident, who spoke on
condition of anonymity, said okada riders had stopped Muhammed at Iyana Iyesi,
because they saw bloodstains on his clothes.
“He lied to them that he
had an accident with a passenger and that he was going to a hospital in Iju to
treat himself. That was why they allowed him to go. When the corpse of the
motorcyclist was later found, a boy said he saw him with Muhammed.
“A leader of Hausa in the
community called Muhammed on the telephone to wait at Iju and the police went
there to arrest him,” he added.
However, Muhammed, who
spoke in Hausa, told the police that argument over N50 change led to a scuffle
between him and Owechu,during which he stabbed the victim.
He said, “When I reached my
destination, I gave him N200 and asked for N50 change. He said my fare was N200
and refused to give me change. As we were exchanging words, he slapped me. He
removed the knife from my pocket and we started struggling.
“I managed to collect it
and stabbed him. I didn’t mean to kill him.”
Our correspondent, who
visited Iyana Iyesi on Friday, learnt that it took the intervention of the
community leaders and a police team, led by the Divisional Police Officer of
the Onipanu division, CSP Muyideen Obe, to douse the tension that ensued after
Owechu’s killing.
A rider, who identified
himself only as Bolaji, said, “For two days, Hausa traders around the park
could not open shops because the other residents were angry. The Hausa leader,
baales within communities in Iyesi and the DPO had to come to the park to
pacify us.”
A member of AMORAN
executive, Gafar Ajayi, said the motorcyclists in the park had been warned
against taking passengers to deserted places to avert a recurrence.
“Since that incident
happened, our men no longer take passengers to Ijaba Pipeline. The incident
pained all of us and we don’t want a repeat. We have also warned them to assess
their passengers and report suspicious ones. Peace has been restored, but we want justice,” he added.
The Ogun State Police
Public Rations Officer,ASP Ambibola Oyeyemi, said the suspect had been
transferred to the State Criminal investigation and Intelligence Department in
Eleweran, Abeokuta, for investigation.
“As soon as the investigation
is concluded, he will be charged to court,” he added.
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