It was pure that struck recently on the Rasak Okunola Avenue, Ijagemo, in the Ijegun area of Lagos State, after a police sergeant, Oludele Olosunde, allegedly beat his son, Ibukun, to death.
According to Punch Metro, the suspect was said to have immediately buried the 17-year-old at the Apapa Cemetery.
It was learnt that Ibukun had just secured admission into a university and was supposed to resume with other freshers on Monday, January 8, when tragedy struck.
Punch Metro reports that Oludele, who was attached to the Kirikiri Police Division, had on Tuesday, January 2, accused Ibukun of stealing N2,000.
By evening, the suspect allegedly took his son into their apartment, where he allegedly beat him up, asking him to confess to the crime.
Ibukun reportedly collapsed and was taken to an auxiliary nurse in the community, who referred him to a medical centre.
The victim was said to have given up the ghost on the way and was confirmed dead at the medical centre.
A resident was reported to have alerted the police and the suspect was arrested on Wednesday after locking himself up in the house.
When Punch Metro visited Ijagemo, he observed that the house was deserted.
Many of the residents approached by our correspondent feigned ignorance of the incident.
However, a man whose house was beside the suspect’s, confirmed the tragedy to Pun Metro.
He said, “The boy was the first of four children. His mother was not around when it happened. I think she travelled. The father said he was looking for N2,000 and said the boy took the money, which he denied.
“That evening, when the man returned from work, he saw the boy outside and grabbed him by the hand. He took him inside the house and asked him to say where the money was. He started flogging the boy, who cried for help. The man flogged him until he went into a coma.”
Another resident said the auxiliary nurse referred the victim to a medical centre in the neighbourhood because of the extent of his injuries.
“After he was confirmed dead, the policeman took the son away and buried him. He wanted people to keep quiet about it. A resident, however, called the police and he was arrested,” he added.
A cleric on the street said the suspect was apprehended by policemen from the Isheri Osun division.
A friend of the victim explained that the parents had just finished paying his tuition fees as he had been admitted into the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State.
“He had packed his things and planned to resume on Monday (today) before this incident happened. Unfortunately after his death, the man found the missing money,” he said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, confirmed the incident, adding that it was a case of manslaughter.
He said, “On January 3, 2018, at about 4pm, information was received that a man killed his son and took away the corpse. We learnt that he returned to his house on Rasaq Okunola Street, Ijagemo, and locked himself inside. Detectives raced to the scene and arrested the suspect.
“Upon interrogation, he said his son, Ibukun, stole his N2,000 and when he questioned him, he ran away. He said his son fell on a septic tank slab in the process and injured his head, but later died in a hospital while receiving treatment.
“He said he took his corpse to the Apapa cemetery for burial. Investigation is ongoing into the case.”