A tragic incident unfolded in Ogun State as Wasiu Oyekan allegedly beat his neighbor, Ibrahim Lateef, to death over a dispute involving N4,500. Lateef passed away on a fateful Sunday after an altercation with the suspect, during which Oyekan reportedly struck Lateef in the neck, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground. The incident occurred in the vicinity of Kobiti Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
The sequence of events leading up to this tragic incident traces back to August when Oyekan accused Lateef’s son and another boy of damaging his PlayStation video game. Oyekan demanded N9,000 to repair the game, of which Lateef’s 50-year-old father provided N4,500, promising to settle the balance later.
As time passed without the balance being paid, Oyekan decided to involve the police, taking Lateef’s son to the station on that ill-fated Sunday. Upon learning of the police involvement, Lateef confronted Oyekan, seeking an explanation for involving his son with the authorities. This confrontation took a violent turn when Oyekan reportedly struck Lateef in the neck, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground. Lateef began bleeding from his nose and ears and, tragically, did not survive the encounter.
An eyewitness, who preferred to remain anonymous, provided these details, shedding light on the sequence of events. Presently, Oyekan is in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Police Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
Lateef, also known as Tijuuku, leaves behind a grieving family, including his mother, a wife caring for a two-month-old baby girl, his other children, and younger siblings. The victim’s aged mother reportedly fainted upon learning of her son’s tragic death.
The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the incident, with the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, directing inquiries to the Divisional Police Officer of Oke-Itoku, CSP Hadiza Abu Oganyi. The DPO corroborated the incident, stating that she transferred the case to the force headquarters on the day it occurred. She indicated that the dispute initially revolved around Oyekan’s report to the police regarding Lateef’s child, setting in motion the unfortunate chain of events. The DPO expressed her inability to provide further details, mentioning that such information should be directed to the PPRO, as she is not authorized to speak with the press.