A visibly devastated 75-year-old woman has narrated how a drunk trigger-happy mobile policeman murdered her only surviving children over the weekend in the Ketu area of Lagos State.
Mrs Beatrice Oyesunle’s twin sons were gunned down by the Police Sergeant alongside their friend after one of the children, Taiwo Oyesunle, was discovered to be a Naval personnel attached to the Nigerian Navy Ship Way, Satelite.
34-year-old Taiwo with his identical twin brother, Kehinde and their friend, identified simply as Jeje were said to have gone to Paulson hotel, on Anibaba Street in the area to book for a room for the latter’s girlfriend who would be returning to the country in the night of Saturday, December 26, 2015.
The drunk policeman identified as Stephen James with Force number 217884 attached to MOPOL 22 Ikeja, was said to have demanded a bottle of beer from the trio in the hotel but a guest at the hotel reportedly advised them not to oblige to his request as he had already taken three bottles of beer and Alomo bitters.
However, James was said to have threatened to shoot them if they refused to do his bidding and as the trio were leaving the premises, Sergeant James reportedly corked his riffle and opened fire first at Jeje, who was celebrating his birthday same day, in his right rib and elbow, killing him on the spot.
An eye witnesses told Vanguard on Sunday, Dece,ber 27, 2015 that Taiwo who was clad in an ash shirt and navy blue trousers, attempted to flee the scene, only to be dragged back on his collar by James who shot him in the head, killing him also on the spot.
Kehinde who was scared of his life pleaded with the sergeant not to kill him but before he could finish the statement, James reportedly shot him on the ribs, and he fell before the policeman shot yet another bullet in his buttocks.
Sergeant James was said to have knelt down and shot himself in the chest, with the bullet launching out from his back.
The bereaved mother of the twins who lost her husband just six months ago, described the demise of her only surviving children as a double tragedy for her.
She said: “Where are my twins and my only source of survival ? Where do I start from? Who do I run to? Are you sure they are dead?”
She was later placed on sedative which made her sleep for some hours only to wake up later to her fate.
She said: “When I lost my husband six months ago, they (children) told me they would take his place by ensuring I lacked nothing,even if it meant them going hungry. They kept to their words by giving me money on monthly basis .
“The last time I set my eyes on them was on Christmas day,when they came visiting. They brought a live brawler and promised to come with money with which I would celebrate the new year. I never knew that day would not come.
“While in church on Saturday, my children called me on my mobile phone. But I could not pick. After the church service , I dialled their lines severally without response. I never suspected anything cruel had befallen them, until my child hood friend called, and requested that I should rush down to her place to settle a score between Taiwo and his fiance. But to my shock when I got here , they broke the most devastating news of my entire 75 years to me.
“My only hope for survival are gone. The children that brought me solace are gone. They were my eyes, my everything. They promised to build me a house for me, so that I would not die as a tenant in Lagos . All those tall dreams have gone down the drain. Where do I start from at this age? Who will call me mummy ? The only children I have in heaven and earth are gone. Ah! Aye mi o”she exclaimed in Yoruba language.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Tunde Owoseni who visited scene of the shooting, described the incident as devastating.
He said: “The IGP is also saddened by this incident. All what he (policeman) did negates the stands of the IGP that we should respect sanctity of life and that we should perform our duty with the observance of the rule of law and observe and respect the rights of the citizens.
“We will investigate the matter to know whether he was posted here or not. By the time we put the pieces and bits of everything together, we will know the reason for his presence here. I have meant with the family.”
On whether there was any plan to compensate the bereaved family, he said: “That will be too hasty.”
