By Dansu Peter Tragedy struck the serene community of Yovoyan in Badagry West LCDA, Lagos State, as a retired police officer, Charles Atide...
By Dansu Peter
According to Newspeddler, the incident, which occurred around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, reportedly left the community in shock and mourning. Among the victims were Richard Atideka, Personal Assistant to the Baale of Yovoyan; Latevi Atideka, wife of David Atideka; and one Muji Onilude, a respected resident from a neighboring community.
Eyewitnesses referenced by Newspeddler disclosed that the gruesome attack was linked to a lingering land dispute involving Charles Atideka and his brothers, David and Richard Atideka. Reports indicate that the matter had been in court, with a final judgment scheduled for Thursday, just two days after the killings.
According to David Atideka, who narrowly escaped the attack, the assailants had targeted him but found his family members instead.
"I had stepped out to use the toilet when I noticed two armed men searching my house. I hid and watched as they shot my wife. Before I could react, they had entered my brother’s house and killed him too. One of the attackers was my own brother, Charles Atideka," David recounted tearfully.
Another harrowing account came from Yusuf Onilude, the son of the late Muji Onilude. "I was asleep when my father came to my room around 2 a.m. Minutes later, I heard gunshots. I rushed out and saw a man fleeing. He fired warning shots and escaped—only for me to find my father dead," Yusuf narrated.
Community leaders and family members are calling for swift justice. James Yovoyan, representing the community chief, urged the Federal Government to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable. Lorence Atideka, the family head, expressed profound grief and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible.
The bodies of the victims have been deposited at the Badagry General Hospital Mortuary as investigations by the Nigerian Police intensify.
The brutal incident has cast a dark shadow over the community, sparking outrage and calls for justice over what many describe as a preventable tragedy rooted in unresolved land disputes.
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