Naval rating arrested for stabbing woman to death

A Naval rating is now cooling his heels in police custody at the Lagos command for allegedly stabbing a middle-aged woman to death.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Friday night at Egan village, a riverine community in Ojo local government area of Lagos.

The deceased, identified as Taibat Badru, was stabbed at her back with a knife by the suspect, whose identity was yet to be known as at the time of filing this report.

She was said to have bled profusely and died at Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, where she was rushed to for medical attention.

It was gathered that the suspect was arrested by police operatives attached to Ilemba Hausa Division on Saturday morning and was immediately transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, following complaint by an aide to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Though the cause of the scuffle that led to the incident could not yet be ascertained, sources said it might not be unconnected with the Baaleship tussle of the village lost by the father of the suspect to a family member of the decreased.

The father of the assailant, identified simply as Moshood, was said to have lost the title of the Baale to a rival, a development, which sources said, has pitched members of the two families against themselves.

According to the source, the suspected killer officer, who was recently deployed from Port Harcourt to Lagos, had arrived the village in company of a friend, armed with a knife.

On arrival at the village, the source added that the suspect had bought some drinks and got himself drunk before embarking on the murderous act.

The source disclosed that the fight actually started between the suspect and son of the deceased woman named Quadri, who invited his mother into the clash but was stabbed in the process.

“Based on the long time tussle over Baale, family members of Moshood and the suspect always fight themselves. Even there was a time the house of Moshood was set ablaze over this matter.

“But this one that led to the death of the woman started between the naval man and the son of the deceased, named Quadri. May be because he heard that they always insult his father that is why he came to avenge the insult. He came to the village last night with one of his friends with a dagger in his pocket.

“Suddenly, we heard a noise between him and Quadri, who ran into their house to inform his mother about the scuffle. As the mother rushed out to check what was happening, the suspect brought out his dagger and stabbed her at the back and blood began to gush out.

“When efforts to stop the blood failed, they then rushed her to the General Hospital at Igando where she eventually died,” the source informed.

Meanwhile, the Press Secretary to the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Musbau Rasak, in a chat with The Guardian, confirmed the incident, adding that the deceased was his sister.

Efforts to get the comments of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Chike Oti, on the incident proved abortive, as he was yet to reply a text message to him, even as he declined calls put across to him.

But a senior police officer who preferred anonymity confirmed the arrest, adding that the case has been transferred to the SCID for discreet investigation.