“The victim was rushed to Igando General Hospital. The suspect alleged that he saw the victim around his fish pond and thought that he came to steal his fish, that is why he attacked him.”
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Jeremiah Obifor, a 61-year old man, for cutting off the hand of 11-year old Goodluck Amechi, with a matchet.
According to the command’s Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, Obifor attacked the suspect on the suspicion that the boy had come to steal from his fish pond.
Obifor, who lives at 14 Isha Ibrahim street, Mechanic Bus stop, Mebamu, Okoko, was arrested following the report lodged by Amechi’s foster mother.
Bala said: “On 7 June 2019 at about 12.20pm one Doris Isaac of No.6 Ajanaku Street, Okoko reported at Okoko Police Station that on the same date at about 8.20 am, her foster son, Goodluck Amechi of the same address, 11years old, was attacked with a matchet by one Jeremiah Obifor, 61years old, of No.14 Isha Ibrahim street, Mechanic Bus stop, Mebamu, Okoko and cut off his right hand.
“The victim was rushed to Igando General Hospital. The suspect alleged that he saw the victim around his fish pond and thought that he came to steal his fish, that is why he attacked him.”
In another unrelated event, the command forestalled a mob action at Lawanson junction, Itere area of Lagos State, and arrested two suspects for the attempted kidnapping of one Justina Emmanuel her one and a half-year-old daughter, Munachisom Agugom.
The victims were rescued while the police take into custody alleged suspects; Joseph Agugom and Paul Agugom.
Bala said the victims “were alleged to have kidnapped the victims for ritual purposes”.
One Honda CRV with Registration No. LAGOS FST 587 BU, one LG phone, iPhone, a bag containing two flasks, three pieces of rope, one black paramilitary belt and one green beret were recovered.
The police said a preliminary investigation revealed that the victim is married to one of the suspects, Joseph Agugom and the child belongs to both of them.
He said: “it was also revealed that the victim is suffering from mental illness and she is being transported to the hospital when she raised alarm and some members of the public stopped the car and descended on the suspects.
“Members of both the suspects and victims family came to the station and made statements to the effect that the victim is suffering from mental illness and was actually being transported to the hospital. The other two children of the victim with her husband were brought to the Station, contrary to the allegations of the victim that they were killed by the husband for money ritual.
“The victim was taken to the hospital by the police for medical examination. Police have launched a manhunt on those who participated in the mob action with a view of bringing them to justice. Members of the public are strongly advised to be more careful not to jump into conclusions on the alarm raised by anybody. Innocent persons have suffered death or bodily harm and inhuman treatment through jungle justice.
“Members of the public have the powers to arrest anybody suspected of a crime but the law provides that such persons arrested should be handed over to the police immediately. It is only investigating that can determine the truthfulness or otherwise of the allegations. And our laws presume the accused person to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.”