The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday said it has launched a manhunt for a suspected murderer, Kehinde Lawal, who allegedly killed his friend, one Mutiu Edunjobi, in the Isheri area of the state during an Ogun festival in the area.
The festival organized by one Friday, aka Ipodo, a popular youth leader in the community, reportedly went bloody after Lawal allegedly stabbed Edunjob, a technician in the neck with a sharp object during a heated argument.
Lawal stabbed his 34-year-old friend while he was walking away from the argument, the Punch gathered.
According to the report, Edunjob was said to have held on to his friend to fight back, but soon fell after losing much blood.
He was thereafter rushed to a private hospital where he died.
While some reports allege that the deceased was accidentally killed, others alleged that Mutiu was killed as a reprisal for a gang fight that occurred sometime in March, after a resident was stabbed in the neck by one of Mutiu’s friends.
Although the victim survived the attack, the police were said to have arrested Mutiu based on information from the victim’s friends.
Mutiu was, however, reportedly released after the police could not find any evidence to indict him.
Speaking on the incident, Mutiu’s relative, who identified himself as Taofik Amore, said since the release, Mutiu’s life had been under threats.
Taofik said efforts by his father to mediate in the case were abortive.
He said, “The gang met Mutiu’s father and told him to prepare to bury his son. He appealed to them that he was only a friend of the aggressor, but they did not listen to him.
“We believe that Lawal was planted at the venue to attack Mutiu,” Taofik said, adding that other worshippers at the festival venue apprehended the suspect, while the victim was rushed to a hospital but the suspect was freed under duress.
Taofik said the suspect’s elder brother, one Yusuf, aka Ata, attacked the worshippers and freed Lawal who used the opportunity to escape.
“When he had escaped, people held his brother (Yusuf) in his place and took him to the police station while the organiser of the festival, Friday, was also arrested at the Isheri Police Station.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed the incident said the suspect, Kehinde Lawal, stabbed one Mutiu Edunjobi in the neck with a knife during a fight at a festival in Edum compound in Isheri.
“The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, but he died.
“His corpse has been removed and deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, morgue for autopsy.
“We are making efforts to get the suspect,” the PPRO added, stating that the case has been transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigations, SDCI, Yaba.
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