A retired 63-year-old Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) identified as Charles Atideka reportedly killed three people over a land dispute and allegedly took his life during police interrogation.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, was reported to have happened between 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. in the Atideka compound. The victims include two family members, Mr Richard Atideka and Mrs Latevi Atideka, as well one other individual identified as Mr Muji Onilude, who hails from a neighbouring community.
The Lagos state police command confirmed the incident on Thursday to journalists in Badagry. Investigations were still ongoing at press time. However, a sketchy report provided by the police spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, suggests that the perpetrator took a poisonous substance after committing the act.
He said that the ex-police officer allegedly ingested a poisonous substance, became unconscious, and was later rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
“The suspect in the incident is dead. He killed three people and allegedly took poison after committing the act.
“He was thereafter rushed to the hospital, where the doctor confirmed him dead. His corpse and those of the victims have been deposited in the morgue,” SP Benjamin Hundeyin said.
Meanwhile, the son of the alleged killer, Mr Henry Atideka, has vehemently debunked the reports making the rounds that his father killed three people and committed suicide afterwards. He said his father was accused of the crime and was invited by the police for interrogation after being tagged a prime suspect in the act.
According to Henry Atideka, his father never took any poisonous substance to end his life. He said the shock his father got after being accused of killing three people made him suffer high blood pressure, and he was rushed to the hospital, where he reportedly died.
He stated that shortly after the incident, the police came to their community, and his father was called to the station in Badagry for questioning as the main suspect.
“Around 8:30 a.m., my father prepared to go to the police station and called to inform me. But around 12:30 p.m., someone called to inform me that he had been admitted to General Hospital Badagry after collapsing and being rushed there. I called my brother, John Atideka, to check on him at the hospital,” he said.
Henry stated that his brother arrived at the hospital and found three policemen guarding their father, as he was considered a prime suspect in the killings.
“John said my father was admitted to the intensive care unit, and he paid for his admission and some drugs before going home to change. When my brother returned around 3:30 p.m., he could not find my father or the three policemen at the unit. Upon inquiry, a nurse informed him that our father had died. That was when he called me,” he said.
Henry said he contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to inquire about his father’s whereabouts, but the DPO claimed ignorance of the situation.
“I arrived at the hospital around 4:00 p.m. but was initially denied access to my father’s body. After calling the DPO, I was allowed to see him. I saw his cold body — he was dead. The rise in his blood pressure (BP), caused by the various accusations, was what killed him. My father was a respected member of the Badagry community. He didn’t kill anyone. The police should conduct a thorough investigation to find the real culprit so his soul can rest in peace,” Henry said.
Dr Olatunde Bakare, the Medical Director of General Hospital Badagry, confirmed that the deceased was brought to the hospital unconscious and gave up the ghost three hours later. The exact cause of his death is not known as no test has been conducted yet.
