Family demands justice for driver allegedly killed with charmed ring
FAMILY of Suliu Ambali, 45year- old commercial bus driver, whose life was cut down in his prime by another neighbor, is demanding justice. The Kwara- born Ambali was punched with a ring allegedly laced with charm by a young man identified as Daduro Afefe at about
4: 30p. m. on Sunday, May 24, at Okemorosun, off Magbon Town, Badagry in Lagos State.
Suliu, who went to work on the said day, had returned to join friends celebrating the Eid- el- Fitri. A call for help came shortly after his arrival, as a woman cried to the men that her aged husband was about being beaten by the said Afefe, a terror in the community.
Suliu and his friends rushed to rescue the man, who was identified as Baba Rotimi, a member of Vigilante Group of Nigeria ( VGN). Unfortunately, Afefe who was said to be on a mission to kill, took out the ring, and aimed for Suliu, who had admonished him not to insult or attempt to beat Baba Rotimi. In reaction to his warning, he punched Suliu in the stomach, who died instantly, while Afefe, who knew the gravity of the offence he had committed, fled the area.
A friend of the deceased, Atolagbe Adetoyi, who witnessed the whole drama, said he is still in shock. Adetoyi told newsmen: “The fact that my friend is gone still seem like a dream. I am yet to believe it. We went to the rescue of the old man, Baba Rotimi. We asked what happened and we were told that Afefe sat in a tricycle, smoking weed with his friend. The rider told them to excuse him as he was about to resume business, but they refused.
“The rider who is also not a troublesome man, as we call him pastor, came to called Baba Rotimi, as an elder, to intervene in the matter and it was while he was trying to caution the boys that they started raining insults on him and threatened to beat him up. We ordered the boys to leave the old man, and warned them against their unruly behaviour. This didn’t go down well with them, as they tried to pick a fight with us. Suliu called Afefe, warning him to desist from released to the family for causing trouble. burial, family are friends
“The matter was settled and are demanding that the we went back to where we police arrest the fleeing were sitting and continued our killer and bring him to jusdiscussion. Suddenly, Afefe tice. Distraught wife of the appeared from nowhere, he deceased, Silifat Ambali, went to Suliu, and was about to who described her huspunch him when one of us band as a peace- loving felblocked the punch with his low, caring father to his two hand. Immediately, the man’s children, and a loving hushand became numb and stiff. band, said she wants jusSince then, the man has not tice. been able to do anything with Meanwhile, it was gaththat hand. ered from residents that
“The second punch landed on Afefe is a suspected cultist, Suliu’s stomach, and he immewho only comes to the area diately fell to his knees, with to hide after committing face down. When we raised his heinous crimes elsewhere. head, he was weak; it was as A resident who does not though all the blood in his want his name mentioned, body had dried up. He died said: “We are now leaving in immediately, while Afefe who fear in the area. Boys, who knew what he had done ran have taken to smoking away. We searched every weed, are always at differknown place to find him but to ent corners. We fear for our no avail. We were however lives and that of our chillucky to get his accomplice and dren. If you decide to we handed him over to operainform the police, after they tives of Morogbo Police are arrested, they are Station.” released and they return
Although his body had been back to the area.”