Man laments slow probe into wife’s killing

A 33-year-old man, Mr. Francis Okogun, is still waiting for situation report from the police, nine months after his wife was killed by armed robbers in the Eleyele area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased, 30-year-old Fatima Musa-Okogun, was killed during a robbery in the area around 7.30pm on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 ─ a few hours to the New Year.

The incident, our correspondent gathered, took place at Fatima’s parents’ residence on Bolatito Street, Ologun Eru, Eleyele, Ibadan.

It was gathered that the murder case was reported to the Eleyele Police Division the following day.

However, Okogun told our correspondent on Tuesday that he had yet to hear anything from the police about his wife’s killers nine months after.

He said, “When those armed robbers attacked us and killed my wife, I almost lost my faith in God. This is because my wife and I were just returning from an orphanage home where we went to do charity on that day. We reported to the Eleyele Police Division, and I have not heard anything since then.

“I believe the police can still expose the killers of my wife. I want them to open up the case, and try as much as possible to do a thorough investigation. I later got to know the case was transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department.

“Since she was killed, life has not been easy, but I thank God. I am gradually overcoming the agony of losing my wife few fours to the first day of the year. She was in her second stage of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. She was a graduate of Accountancy from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State. We had met and got married in October 2012.”

Our correspondent gathered that on Tuesday, December 31, the couple, who had travelled to Ibadan from Benin on Dec 29 to spend part of the Yuletide with Fatima’s parents, were returning from a visit.

It was gathered that the robbers had struck the house, while the couple were driving into the compound. They were said to have shot Fatima in the head, before rough-handling Okogun and two of Fatima’s younger brothers who were the persons at home.

Our correspondent learnt that the robbers had threatened to kill more people in the house, if they were not given ‘enough’ money. Eventually, they were said to have left the house after locking up their victims in the toilet.

Fatima was said to have later been rushed to the University College Hospital, where she was confirmed dead. She was buried the following day.

But the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Ilobanafor, said the complainant─ Okogun ─ should be given her contacts so that she could direct him to the appropriate police authorities who would brief him on investigations on the matter.

She said, “When there is a matter like this, and you want to know what the police are doing, the man should contact me directly ─ not by writing a petition or by going to the press.

“When he comes, he will be directed to the Operation Commander, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. He will find out the level of police investigation. Presently, I may not be able to give details concerning the matter.”