Charles Atideka, a 63-year-old, retired Deputy Superintendent of Police reportedly murdered himself alongside three people over a land dispute.
On Thursday in Badagry, the News Agency of Nigeria received confirmation of the incident from the Lagos State Police Command.
NAN reports that the late ex-police officer on Tuesday allegedly shot and killed two family members and one other individual over a land dispute.
According to NAN investigation, Mr Richard Atideka, Mrs Latevi Atideka, both from the Yovoyan community, and Mr Muji Onilude from the neighbouring Gberefu community were killed by the ex-police officer and his yet-to-be identified accomplice.
A survivor of the attack, Mr David Atideka, who recounted the harrowing experience, stated that the incident occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. in the Atideka compound.
However, the culprit committed suicide after carrying out the atrocity, according to SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the command spokesperson who confirmed the suicide.
He claimed that after reportedly consuming a poisonous substance, the retired police officer lost consciousness and was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
“The suspect in the incident is dead. He killed three people and allegedly took poison after committing the act.
“He was thereafter rushed to the hospital, where the doctor confirmed him dead.
“His corpse and those of the victims have been deposited in the morgue,” he told NAN.
However, Mr Henry Atideka, son of the alleged killer, presented a different account of events.
He claimed that while travelling to the Badagry Police Station for questioning, his late father collapsed and passed away.
The police had invited his father as a major suspect in the suspected murders of three members of their village, Henry told NAN.
Medical records from the General Hospital in Badagry, according to the younger Atideka, contradicted the suicide accusation.
“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., when my father had prepared to visit the police station, he called to inform me.
“But around 12:30 p.m., someone called to inform me that he had been admitted to General Hospital, Badagry, after collapsing and being rushed there. I called my brother, John Atideka, to check on him at the hospital,” he said.
Henry reported that his brother arrived at the hospital and discovered three cops guarding their father, as he was considered a prime suspect in the crimes.
“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. When my brother returned around 3:30 p.m., he could not find my father or the three policemen at the unit.
“Upon inquiry, a nurse informed him that our father had died. That was when he called me,” he stated.
Henry claimed that when he called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to find out where his father was, the DPO denied knowing anything about the matter.
“I arrived at the hospital around 4:00 p.m. but was initially denied access to my father’s body. After calling the DPO, I was allowed to see him. I saw his cold body—he was dead. The rise in his blood pressure (BP), caused by the various accusations, was what killed him.
“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 said.
The Medical Director of General Hospital Badagry, Dr Olatunde Bakare, confirmed that the deceased was rushed to the hospital in the afternoon and died about three hours later.
“The hospital has not conducted any tests to determine the exact cause of death.
“We do not know whether the deceased committed suicide by swallowing something or if his death was due to a rise in blood pressure,” Bakare said.
(NAN)
