FAMILY OF POLICEMAN CRUSHED BY A MOTOR BOY DEMANDS JUSTICE
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The family of late Sodiq Obasa, a police inspector who was allegedly killed by a motor boy, Moruf Popoola, in the Trade Fair area of Lagos State, has demanded justice for him.
Obasa’s younger brother, Moses Peters, told The Punch that the motor boy, whose boss’ truck was impounded for committing an offence, allegedly crushed the inspector to death in a bid to escape with the truck.
He noted that Obasa’s corpse was mutilated, adding that the family could hardly recognise him when they went to see his remains in a mortuary.
The 30-year-old Kogi State indigene said, “We received a call that he had a minor accident, so we went to his workplace. When we got there, we were told to go back home because he had returned home.
“But another policeman later told us that he had died. When we visited the mortuary for confirmation, I wept when I saw his corpse. If not for his face, I would not have recognised my brother. His body was mutilated. I complained to the Divisional Police Officer, who promised that the corpse would be stitched up.
“We were told that the truck driver committed an offence and his truck was impounded. He (Obasa) was at his office when they called him that the motor boy wanted to escape with the truck.
“So, he came outside to talk to the motor boy. While talking to him, he (Popoola) suddenly put the trailer in gear and crushed him. People raised the alarm that he had hit my brother. He put the vehicle in reverse and ran over him. I just finished schooling and my brother had invited me to stay with him so that he could help me to look for a job. But now, he is no more.”
The wife of the deceased, Joy Mathew, who was pregnant, said she had yet to recover from the shock of the incident.
The mother of two urged the government to honour her late husband, adding that he was billed for promotion from inspectorate level to an Assistant Superintendent of Police in December 2018.
The 30-year-old Delta State indigene said, “The accident happened on Friday around 8pm, but I was informed around 4pm of the following day. I have been struggling to survive since his death; I have two daughters for him and I am also pregnant.
“He was an honest man who did not play with his job. Whenever he was sick, he would still go to work. He was supposed to be promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police this December. In fact, the documents have been prepared. I want the government to honour him and take care of his family.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, confirmed the incident, adding that those involved in the accident would be prosecuted.
Oti said, “Investigation into that case is ongoing and at the end of the day, those responsible for the accident will be prosecuted. The driver, who left his truck in the hands of an inexperiencedmotor boy, thereby endangering other road users, will be prosecuted as well.
“Also, the inexperienced motor boy, who knew that he was not qualified to drive that truck but drove it and killed a policeman, would be charged with manslaughter at the end of investigation.
“And for the policeman that died, we have our tradition of burying a fallen policeman. The police tradition in this case is that we will give him a decent burial because he died on duty. We will accord him all the respect that he deserves.”
(The Punch)
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