By Dansu Peter The son of retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Charles Atideka has refuted claims that his father committed suici...
By Dansu Peter
The police in Lagos State confirmed the incident to newsmen on Thursday, stating that the retired 63-year-old officer reportedly took his life after allegedly shooting and killing three individuals—Mr. Richard Atideka, Mrs. Latevi Atideka, both from Yovoyan community, and Mr. Muji Onilude from the neighbouring Gberefu community—on Tuesday. The killings were said to have stemmed from a longstanding land dispute.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the retired officer allegedly ingested a poisonous substance after the killings. He reportedly became unconscious and was rushed to a hospital where he was confirmed dead. The police stated that the bodies of the victims and the alleged killer were deposited at the morgue.
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However, Mr. Henry Atideka, son of the alleged killer, has vehemently denied the suicide claim, providing a different account of events. Henry asserted that his father collapsed and died while on his way to the Badagry Police Station for interrogation, dismissing the notion that he ingested poison.
According to Henry, his father had been invited by the police as the prime suspect in the incident and had prepared to go to the station on the morning of the tragedy.
"When the police visited our community shortly after the incident, my father was invited to the station in Badagry for interrogation as the prime suspect. Around 8:30 a.m., my father prepared to go to the police station and called to inform me," Henry narrated.
He said he later received a call around 12:30 p.m. that his father had collapsed and was rushed to the General Hospital, Badagry. Henry disclosed that his brother, John Atideka, who went to the hospital, found three policemen guarding their father, given his status as a prime suspect.
"John said my father was admitted to the intensive care unit, and he paid for his admission and some drugs before going home to change," Henry continued. "But when my brother returned around 3:30 p.m., he could not find my father or the three policemen. A nurse informed him that our father had died."
Henry said he contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for answers but was met with claims of ignorance regarding his father’s condition. Upon finally being allowed to see his father’s body, Henry alleged that the stress and rising blood pressure caused by the accusations led to his father’s death.
“My father was a respected member of the Badagry community. He didn’t kill anyone. The police should conduct a thorough investigation to find the real culprit so his soul can rest in peace," he insisted.
Dr. Olatunde Bakare, the Medical Director of General Hospital Badagry, confirmed that the deceased was rushed to the hospital but died about three hours later. Bakare noted that no tests had been conducted to determine the exact cause of death, adding that it was unclear whether the death resulted from poisoning or a health complication such as elevated blood pressure.
The incident has since stirred reactions within the Badagry community, with many calling for a comprehensive investigation to unravel the truth behind the tragic deaths.
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