Help fish out my son’s killers, widow begs Ambode
A widow, Mrs Bridget Chinwokwu , yesterday appealed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal as well as the State Governor, Akinwonmi Ambode to help fish-out her son’s killers.
Her son, Sylvester Chiwokwu, a footballer, was shot dead at the Alapere area of Ketu, Lagos, while on a commercial motorcycle. Sylvester was shot in the hand and he fell off the motorcycle.
The aggrieved mother who hails from Ubulu Uku in Delta state said: “I was not there, but I was told by a witness, an elderly man that when my son was on the motorcycle, he was shot in the hand, fell down and as he was struggling to stand up, one of the gun men who were in a Toyota Camry car, ordered him not to stand up or be shot dead. As he was struggling in excruciating pains, he asked what his offence was and one of them, Femi said he was always dressing well and has refused to associate with their group .One of them said he was still asking questions, so he commanded other men to finish him. He was stabbed severally .One of them used axe to butcher him. He was shouting for help, but no one came to his rescue.
“My son was not staying in Lagos, he was playing football in Abuja, and planning to go abroad to join a club. He just came in few months ago to help me on some projects. On the fateful day, he had gone to see his sister who stays in Alapere. As he arrived her house, my daughter told him to go back to Ikorodu where we stay as cult groups were fighting and shooting. He adhered and he boarded the commercial motorcycle, and as he wanted to leave, one of his friends called him on phone and told him to come over to his place from where he intended to leave for Ikorodu. It was on the way to his friend, that he met his untimely death”, she lamented.
“Why I am pained is that his father died long time ago. I suffered to bring my children up. My Children suffered with me. We hawked together to raise money to train them in the schools. He has finished his studies and has taken to soccer. His brother has perfected plans to put him in a club. My child had been complaining bitterly that each time he went to see his elder sister, Femi and his group used to tell him that he was proud and that because he has been blessed, he would not assist them. We used to stay at Alapere before my first son managed to build a house for me in Ikorodu.
“I learnt that the Police have recovered the van used for the operation and parked at Thomas Police station, off Owode Onirin, on Ikorodu road .I learnt that the owner of the vehicle has been coming to claim the car. I am calling on Governor Ambode and the Lagos state Police Commissioner, to wade into the matter and bring the killers to justice.
Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Chike Oti , said: “We are aware of the killing. When our men received a distress call that a man was shot, they gave the vehicle a hot chase and one of the suspects was shot dead while others escaped with bullet wound. We have recovered the operational vehicle which is at Thomas Police station. The vehicle has no number plate. We are trying to know who owns the car and under the circumstances the car reached the hands of the hoodlums. I want to assure that as usual, we will get the killers. We will do justice to the matter. We are investigating and we will do it to a logical conclusion”, he said