Many people may not have known the late human rights
activist, Mr. Vincent Olatunde. He was however known to cultists, cyber
criminals and policemen stationed at Somolu area of Lagos. He had a
penchant for reporting any perceived ill in Somolu, before he was killed
by cultists.
Three years after his murder, the Lagos Police State Command, last
week, announced that his killer has been arrested. The arrest of
Ibrahim Balogun, alias Small Jepron, the alleged leader of Eiye
confraternity in Somolu, that killed Vincent, has made Mrs. Adetutu
Olatunde, wife of the slain activist, to reveal the nightmare her life
and those of her children has become. Balogun was alleged to have
murdered Vincent and four others at Shomolu.
Vincent was attacked on October, 1, 2013. He died, leaving his
wife to bring up their children alone. One would have expected Adetutu
to jubilate over the arrest of Balogun, but instead, she lamented: “My
children and I had gone through a lot since the death of my husband
three years ago. Some of the cultists, who killed my husband, are still
threatening to kill my children and I. They said we’ve been reporting
them to the police.”
The widow recalled an incident that became imprinted in her
memory. It happened in the area she and her children relocated, after
Vincent died. Adetutu said: “One day, I was outside with my children
when some of the cult members came to our street.
They came to see one of their friends, who just returned from
London. Immediately they saw my children and I outside, they moved
towards us and started threatening and cursing us.” Recollecting how her
husband was killed, Adetutu said: “I still remember that day like it
was yesterday.
The day cultists shot my husband; I was outside, waiting for
someone. I saw some young boys. They rode on five motorcycles. They
positioned themselves in front of our former house. They were all
dressed in black.”
Adetutu said that when the cult boys arrived, they initially
didn’t recognise Vincent. She said someone, standing close to Vincent,
fingered him. She narrated: “Immediately they saw him, they brought out
their guns and started shooting straight at him. He tried to run and
defend himself, but they eventually shot him.
They thought he was dead at that point and left him. We rushed him
to Mainland General Hospital, Yaba, where X-ray was conducted on him.
About 23 pellets were discovered on his arms. The medical doctors said
they could not operate him, so that he would not die from blood
shortage.”
The family later relocated to another part of the metropolis for
security purpose. Adetutu said the relocation became necessary after it
was discovered that the cultists were frantically searching for Vincent,
to ensure he was finally eliminated.
Adetutu said: “To my surprise, even when we were invited to the
State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, some of
the cultists, laid ambush for him. He escaped. Since then, I lost my
respect for the police. I didn’t know how the cultists got to know that
my husband was going to the station that very day. Someone must have
told them at the police station. Some of these cult boys had been
arrested before, but we see them walking freely in the community after
some days.
Even this Balogun that was arrested will soon be released. They’ll
come back to start trailing and threatening my family. That’s why I
don’t like speaking with journalists.” She said that the most painful
event of her life was when Vincent died on her birthday. He died from
the gunshot wound inflicted by the cultists. She said: “But my children
and I have accepted our fate and left judgment to God. My late husband’s
spirit fought hard for vengeance.
Seven of the cultists that killed my husband have died
mysteriously. Among them was the boy that shot him. I’m happy their
leader has been arrested. Others should be arrested too, so that peace
will return to Somolu community.”
0 Comments