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Tag: Wife killer

  • Alleged Lagos wife killer dies in custody

    Alleged Lagos wife killer dies in custody

    BARELY three weeks after, Jafaru Sougie, the man who allegedly murdered his wife, Rose, in Oshodi, a Lagos suburb, is dead.

    The 48-year-old man died on Friday morning at the Police Hospital, Ikeja, where he has been on admission since May 26.

    He was alleged to have swallowed a poisonous substance in an attempt to commit suicide after he allegedly slit his wife’s throat.

    It was gathered that the man whom the police had doubted his mental state, never recovered from effect of the harmful substance he ingested.

    It was learnt that none of his relatives showed up while he was in custody.

    His only brother who visited him in the hospital was said to have disappeared after he was told that money would be needed for his treatment.

    Our correspondent gathered that Sougie emaciated throughout his stay in custody.

    His body has since been deposited in a mortuary pending the conduct of autopsy.

    Sougie who allegedly killed his wife in the wee hours of May 26, was found vomiting in the bathroom of their room and parlour apartment at about 4am by their son, Richmond.

    Richmond who ran into his parent’s room to inform his mother of her husband’s condition, was the one who found her corpse and then raised the alarm.

    Confirming his death, the spokesperson of Lagos Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, said the deceased never recovered.

    “I confirmed that the man died this morning at the hospital. He has been on admission since then. He did not recover from the poisonous substance he took. He was also not taking his medications. All attempt to rescue him so that investigations can be conducted failed.”

  • Suspected wife-killer may be ‘mentally unstable’, say police

    Suspected wife-killer may be ‘mentally unstable’, say police

    Forty-nine-year old Jafaru Sogei, who allegedly killed Rose, his wife of 26 years, last Friday, may be “mentally unstable”, the police said yesterday.

    Acting spokesman of Lagos Command Chukwuma Ozoani, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said there was possibility that the suspect is mentally unstable because he can barely speak for now.

    Ozoani said: “We are carrying out various tests on him. There is the possibility that he might be mentally unstable. He might have psychiatric problem. He is in police hospital; we are checking his mental health. It is an all inclusive thing. He cannot stand on his own nor speak what we understand.

    “He only looks and murmurs and so we are going the extra mile to look at the issues and observe him.”

    Sogei was said to have ingested a poisonous chemical after allegedly slashing his wife’s throat and was found vomiting in the bathroom at about 4am.

    It was gathered that he attempted to set the body ablaze before his son, Richard, saw him and raised the alarm.

    Richard found his mother’s body when he went into the room to tell her that his father may be sick.

    Neighbours quickly held Sogei, who was subsequently arrested by policemen from Akinpelu division and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) at Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

    The police rushed him to the hospital when his condition became critical.

    The police initially thought the suspect was on drugs, but later discovered that he might have ingested poison as his health was deteriorating.

    “He was rushed to the hospital and has been there since then. There is a possibility he is mentally unstable. Our psychiatric doctors are checking him. He is not in a good state at all. He took poison. He is not well so we are treating him at the police hospital.

    “You cannot investigate someone who is at the point of death. But once he recovers, we would begin investigation into the case,” said a source.

    It was gathered that Abiodun Odude, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the SCIID spent several hours in the hospital on Saturday and yesterday.

    Before the incident, it was learnt that Sogei had been warning his wife to stop collecting gifts from her relatives for the family’s upkeep.

    The suspect, who is said to be jobless, had reportedly assaulted his wife and mother of his five children on some occasions for alleged infidelity.

    According to Richard, who spoke with reporters last Friday, the suspect started acting strangely after allegedly killing his wife.

    He said: “My three siblings, our aunt and I slept in the living room, while dad and mum were inside. Around 4am, dad called me from the bathroom. I went to meet him but he did not say anything. I went outside to urinate and when I came back, I checked the bathroom and saw him lying down, vomiting some black substance and excreting on his body. I think he poisoned himself. I told my aunt to wake mum up to attend to him. But she didn’t wake up. I shone a flashlight on her and saw blood on the bed with a wide cut in her neck. I fainted when we discovered she was dead.

    “We later asked dad how it happened, he said somebody entered and did it whereas the compound gate is always locked in the night.

    “It was mum that took care of us. She was the one sponsoring my elder brother, Collins, who just gained admission into a university in Abia State. I don’t know our fate now.

    “The landlord of our former house on Michael Street sent us out because dad always quarrelled with mum. We were also sent away from Banjoko Street for the same reason.”

  • Another man kills wife in Lagos

    Another man kills wife in Lagos

    Less than one month after Lekan Shonde reportedly killed his wife in Egbeda area of Lagos State, another man, Friday, allegedly murdered his wife at their no 8 Araromi area of the state.

    According to the sister in-in-law who simply identified herself as Vero, the suspect, James Kafaru Esougie, slashed his wife, Roseline’s throat while she was asleep.

    Unlike Lekan who ran away after he reportedly committed the crime, Vero said James didn’t run away but started manifesting strange characters when they became aware of the incident.

    Vero said: “We were sleeping when my sister’s husband came out to wake the first son to go and urinate. This was about 4am.  When the boy went in to wake the mother, he saw that she was not responding.  He shook her vigorously and got no response and quickly ran to call me. When I got there, I also shook her with the aim of waking her but got no response. Touching her legs, I observed that it was very cold. I shuddered and quickly removed that cloth on her face.

    ‘It was then that I saw that the husband had used a knife to slash her neck. He cut the vein that holds the neck and the head. She was in a pool of her own blood. Goose pimples overwhelmed me and the children. They were traumatized as they saw the lifeless body of the mother drenched with blood.

    “When we were doing all these, the husband sat on the floor vomiting black things and defecating right there. Thereafter, I raised the alarm and neighbours came to apprehend him.  The police was later invited to whisk him away.”

    Asked if the couple used to quarrel before the murder, Vero said:  “They used to quarrel a lot. The husband was always beating her. We severally told her to leave the house for him but she declined, preferring to endure for the sake of her children.  It was her resolve to endure that eventually caused her, her life. She gave birth to five children for him. They are both from Auchi, in Edo State. My sister was a petty trader but the husband doesn’t have any known job. As far as I know, he is jobless. It was my sister that was responsible for providing for the needs of the family. ”

    The rest of  deceased’s  siblings were in pensive mood obviously trying to fathom the fate that befell  their sister as Vero tearfully relived the account of how the sister was gruesomely murdered in  the building that houses several shops where clothing and other house hold items are sold.

    Seething anger glaringly stood on the face Philip, the deceased’s younger brother when The Nation sought his comment on the incident. He paced up and down in the apartment looking downcast.

    “My late sister’s husband married her when she was in the secondary school. He was initially working as a trailer driver before he lost his job. He has been jobless since then.  We have been asking her to park out all along but she refused. It is unfortunate that she ended up being sacrificed by the man she gave her all.”

    Shop owners in the building sat sorrowfully in groups at the entrance of the house bemoaning the fate that befell the deceased. Some of them who spoke with our correspondent said they saw the deceased when she returned from her business place around 8pm on Thursday. They said the husband became unusually aggressive earlier in the week as he quarreled with everybody that stood on his way.

    “The man was very aggressive all through Wednesday and good part of Thursday. He was smoking and feverishly puffing the smoke of the cigarette into the air. He kept   throwing away every chair and table that he saw on the way and also quarrelling with everybody that saw.  We never knew that he was preparing the ground for the dastardly act he wanted to carry out.

    “The wife sells frozen food at Ijora. We were outside when she returned from her business place Thursday.  She was looking very tired and sick. When we asked her what the matter was, she said she wasn’t feeling healthy. When we told her to take some days off and rest, she said it would not be possible immediately because she needed to hustle to get money to pay her children’s school fees. She said she would take time to rest after paying the school fees.  She had earlier paid the rent. Unfortunately, the rest will end up becoming an eternal one,” one of the traders said.

    Another trader said: “The deceased was a gentle person. She was always going out early and coming back late in the night. We are all aware that she was the breadwinner of the family because the husband was always idle. I have serious concern about the future of the children. Before they were taking away by the deceased’s family, they were seriously hungry.  They had to go and borrow matches to lit the stove to make something for them to eat.”

     

  • Detained suspected wife-killer on hunger strike

    Detained suspected wife-killer on hunger strike

    Detained suspected wife-killer Lekan Shonde is on hunger strike, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    He has refused to eat since his arrival at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) at Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, on Monday.

    Shonde was alleged to have beaten his wife, Ronke, to death last Thursday at their Egbeda, Lagos home. He reportedly locked their two kids with the body in the house and fled.

    The kids, Temioluwa and Tiaraoluwa, have been taken to Kwara State to stay with their grandmother.

    The suspect came out of hiding on Monday and surrendered to the police.

    Detectives searched his home yesterday as investigation hots up onto the case.

    It was gathered that the team of detectives who took him home included forensic experts.

    The Nation also gathered that autopsy was yesterday conducted on Mrs Shonde at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

    The result will be ready in two days.

    Meanwhile, the deceased’s alleged lover, has remained silent despite being accused by Shonde of wrecking his home.

    Shonde was said to have told his friends that he called him on telephone after his wife died, accusing him of destroying his home.

    The suspect also claimed that he quarrelled with his wife after he overheard her conversation with her lover following her return from Abuja.

    He claimed that he took his wife to Abuja where they spent five days together. The suspect claimed that the alleged lover apologised to him.

  • Suspected wife-killer Shonde held in Panti

    Suspected wife-killer Shonde held in Panti

    •Police recover victim’s phone from hubby

    A DOCKWORKER, Lekan Shonde, who fled after he allegedly killed his wife, Ronke, five days ago, yesterday surrendered to the police.

    Police chief Fatai Owoseni ordered that he be detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCID) at Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, pending investigation.

    Owoseni gave the order after the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) commander, Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), took the suspect to the police headquarters at Ikeja GRA.

    The police recovered the late Mrs Shonde’s phone from her husband, who had earlier denied having the phone.

    Shonde was alleged to have beaten Ronke to death on Thursday night and fled. He allegedly locked their two kids in the house with her body.

    Since leaving home, the suspect was said to have move from Cotonou, Benin Republic to Badagry and Ondo State.

    It was gathered that he was convinced to come back to Lagos from Ondo State on Sunday night.

    According to a police source, Shonde, who is from Ogun State, eventually listened to the advice of his friends and relatives and returned to Lagos, but stayed in a hotel at Ikeja GRA.

    It was gathered that undercover detectives from RRS were already in the hotel before his friends took him to Disu’s office at about 1pm.

    Shonde, it was gathered wept, claiming that he did not kill his wife.

    Although the police shielded Shonde from reporters, his friends, Sunday Nwobi and Gbenga Sholuki, who claimed to have known him for over 30 years, said he is not violent.

    They claimed that he loved his wife so much that he allowed her to keep the family’s account.

    “At the moment he has nothing because even the money he makes was kept in an account the wife has access to. Even the ATM card is with her. Everything was under her. That’s how much he loved her,” they claimed.

    According to Nwobi, the suspect’s friend for 33 years, they both attended Ikeja High School, but he was a class ahead of Shonde.

    “He has never been violent. I have known him for the past 33 years and I can tell you that he is a gentleman. He was in the same class with my immediate younger brother who has just returned from the United States because of this matter.

    “He attended Ikeja High School. I have been in touch with him since the ugly incident and he sent me over 70 messages threatening to commit suicide.

    “He told me he had quarrelled with his wife on alleged infidelity. He said his wife confessed she has a man friend in her work place.

    “Lekan told me that he caught his wife talking to the man on phone and that she went to Abuja with her lover and they spent five days together.

    “As the wife was confessing and begging him, he said he pushed her aside and went into the room to sleep. That he didn’t talk to her nor touch her because he was angry.

    “Since he usually left the house early (5am) for work every day and returns around 8pm, he said he left that day as usual and that their eight-year-old son was the one who bolted the door, while he used his own key to lock the gate as usual.

    “Lekan told me that he never knew anything has happened to his wife until he was called by his landlady on phone. That his landlady told him his wife had died and that he was a suspect. He said his landlady’s daughter also called him.

    “He was on his way to the house but different people called and told him to run because police were in his house and they were looking for him as the suspect. That was why he fled.

    “But as soon as he contacted me that same day, I kept telling him to come out. His aged father also told him to turn himself in and allow the law to run its course,” he said.

    Some of the text messages the suspect sent to Nwobi on May 7 read: “I want to die. Please help me, I can’t face the police or cell. They will kill me.”

    Other messages sent to Nwobi, including that of May 9, thanked him for being a true friend.

    “Morning Senior Sunday, thanks for everything. I want to go to Alausa. You are the only one that advised me not to kill myself. I will respect you till I die,” he said.

    Sholuki, Executive Director, Campaign against Impunity and Domestic Violence, said he came out for Shonde because he believes in him.

    He said: “Even as we were coming to the police command, he has spoken with his mother-in-law to notify her that he has surrendered. The woman told him that he has done very well for her family and that though they were pained, they have forgiven him and he should not think of suicide again.

    “He also called his wife’s lover and told him he hoped he was happy now that he has destroyed his home. The man begged for forgiveness.

    “When information came to us about what happened, we told him to come out for the law to take its course. We have known him for a long time and he is not a violent person.

    “We want justice. We are demanding a medical examination to ascertain what really happened. He is a family man. He cherishes his wife and says very pleasant things about her. All we want is justice. If scientific evidence proves he killed his wife, then, he should go in for it. But what we do not like is his being condemned even before autopsy result comes out.”

    Owoseni said autopsy would ascertain the cause of death, adding that the police were yet to interrogate Shonde.

    “As you can see, he has just been brought. It is still an allegation and the police are not the court of law to pronounce anyone guilty or otherwise.

    “He has turned himself in. I confirm he is in our custody. We will ensure we get to the root of the matter. He shall be interrogated and investigation is ongoing. We cannot say for sure what happened but autopsy report will prove the cause of death,” he said.

  • Update: Police detain alleged wife killer in Panti

    Update: Police detain alleged wife killer in Panti

    The Lagos State Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni had ordered that alleged wife killer, Lekan Shonde be detained at the homicide unit, State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti-Yaba.

    Owoseni gave the order Monday after the Commander Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police  (ACP) took the suspect to the command’s headquarters.

    Shonde was alleged to have beaten his wife, Ronke Shonde to death on Thursday night, after which he ‘fled’, locking their two kids in the house with the deceased’s corpse on the ground.

    The suspect, who has since been hiding, was said to have shuttled Cotonou, Benin Republic, Badagry and Ondo State since Friday.

    It was gathered that he was convinced to come back to Lagos from Ondo State on Sunday night, where he had planned to flee the country from.

    Shonde, it was gathered cried severally, insisting that he did not kill his late wife.

    Although the police shielded Shonde from journalists, his friends, Sunday Nwobi and Gbenga Sholuki, who claimed to have known the suspect for decades, said he has never been a violent person.

    They claimed that the suspect loved his wife so much that the family’s income was kept in her custody.

    “At the moment he has nothing because even the money he makes was kept in an account the wife has access to. Even the ATM card is with her. Everything was under her. That’s how much he loved her,” they claimed.

    According to Nwobi, he has been the suspect’s friend for 33 years, they both attended Ikeja High School, but he was a class ahead of Shonde.

    “He has never been violent. I have known him for the past 33 years and I can tell you that he is a gentleman. He was in the same class with my immediate younger brother who has just returned from the United States because of this matter.

    “He attended Ikeja High School. I have been in touch with him since the ugly incident and he sent me over 70 messages threatening to commit suicide.

    “He told me he had quarrel with his wife on alleged infidelity. He said his wife confessed she has man friend, at her place of work.

    “Lekan told me that he caught his wife talking to the man on phone and that she went to Abuja with her lover and they spent five days together.

    “As the wife was confessing and begging him, he said he pushed her aside and went into the room to sleep. That he didn’t talk to her nor touch her because he was angry.

    “Since he usually left the house early (5am) for work every day and returns around 8pm, he said he left that day as usual and that their eight-year-old son was the one who bolted the door, while he used his own key to lock the gate as usual.

    “Lekan told me that he never knew anything has happened to his wife until he was called by his landlady on phone. That his landlady told him his wife had died and that he was a suspect. He said his landlady’s daughter also called him.

    “He was on his way to the house but different people called and told him to run because police were in his house and they were looking for him as the suspect. That was why he fled.

    “But as soon as he contacted me that same day, I kept telling him to come out. His aged father also told him to turn himself in and allow the law to run its course,” he said.

    Similarly, Sholuki, who’s Executive Director, Campaign against Impunity and Domestic Violence said he came out for Shonde because he believed in him.

    “Even as we were coming to the police command, he has spoken with his mother-in-law to notify her that he has surrendered. The woman told him that he has done very well for her family and that though they were pained, they have forgiven him and he should not think of suicide again.

    “He also called his wife’s lover and told him he hoped he was happy now that he has destroyed his home. The man begged for forgiveness.

    “When information came to us about what has happened, we told him to come out for the law to take its course. We have known him for a long time and he is not a violent person.

    “We want justice. We are demanding a medical examination to ascertain what really happened. He is a family man. He cherishes his wife and says very pleasant things about her. All we want is justice. If scientific evidence proofs he killed his wife, then, he should go in for it. But what we do not like is his being condemned even before autopsy result comes out,” said Sholuki.

    Confirming that the suspect was in police custody, Owoseni said an autopsy will ascertain the cause of death, adding that the police was yet to interrogate Shonde.

    “As you can see, he has just been brought in. It is still an allegation and the police is not the court of law to pronounce anyone guilty or otherwise.

    “He has turned himself in. I confirm he is in our custody. We will ensure we get to the root of the matter.

    He shall be interrogated and investigation is ongoing. We cannot say for sure what happened but autopsy report will prove cause of death,” he said.