A taxi driver, Tunde Adetola, 43, has been murdered by an angry mob over claims that he beat up an epileptic patient, identified as, Friday Williams, in the Onipanu area of Lagos State.
The incident happened on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at a drinking spot located on the Awe Crescent of the aforementioned area.
Late Adetola was said to have gotten into an argument with the daughter of the owner of the drinking joint and Williams, who is epileptic reportedly intervened, which heated up to a serious brawl between him and the deceased.
Williams sustained some injuries during the melee which prompted some of his friends and street urchins to form a mob and beat Adetola to death.
According to Punch, the policemen from the Onipanu division took Adetola’s corpse to a morgue and arrested Williams and one of his friends, Lucky Nnaeto.
Williams, who hails from Imo State flatly denied allegations that he fueled Adetola’s death.
He said, “It happened on Sunday at a popular joint, where we usually have fun. Taxi drivers also come there to enjoy themselves.
“I arrived there around 8am. The taxi driver also arrived and saw a food hawker. He asked the girl to serve him food and she did.
“The daughter of the owner of the shop was lying on a table, and Adetola ordered her to stand up so he could sit and eat, but she ignored him.
“The man felt insulted and subsequently abused the girl, who also replied him. So, I decided to intervene and asked him to get another table.
“He began to insult me. He slapped me and boxed me in the mouth. We fought, but he overpowered me.”
According to Williams, he was on his way home from the spot when he met his friend, Nnaeto, a motorcycle rider.
Nnaeto disclosed how he initially thought that Williams sustained the injuries during the course of an epileptic seizure.
He said, “I saw blood in his mouth and body and asked him if he had had his seizure again, but he said he was beaten up by a taxi driver.
“I was angry and when I saw the driver, I confronted him for attacking a sick man. I told him to apologise and pay for his treatment or else I would deflate the tyres of his cab.
“The driver called him and they discussed. He gave Williams N500 to treat himself and they settled.
“I left them and mounted my motorcycle and left the area.”
It was gathered that some other friends who saw Williams’ injuries decided to revenge the attack after he narrated what had happened to him.
They disappeared from the scene before the police arrived, although two persons were later arrested in connection with the incident.
The state police spokesperson, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, is yet to confirm the incident, although, a source disclosed that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
