A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Charles Atideka, reportedly took his own life after allegedly killing three people over a land dispute in Lagos. However, conflicting accounts from his family suggest a different narrative.
A Deadly Dispute
The tragic incident, confirmed by the Lagos State Police Command, occurred in the early hours of Tuesday. Witnesses say Atideka, 63, along with an unidentified accomplice, allegedly shot and killed two members of his family, Richard Atideka and Latevi Atideka, both from Yovoyan community, and a third victim, Muji Onilude, from the neighboring Gberefu community.
Survivor of the attack, David Atideka, recounted the harrowing moment, stating the shooting happened between 2:00 a.m. and 2:30 a.m.
A Controversial Death
Lagos State Police spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that after committing the act, Atideka allegedly ingested poison and later died at the hospital.
“The suspect killed three people and allegedly took poison after committing the act. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead,” Hundeyin reported.
Family Disputes Suicide Claim
However, Henry Atideka, the son of the deceased, insists his father did not commit suicide. He claims that Charles Atideka was invited to the police station for questioning but collapsed on his way there due to stress and rising blood pressure from false accusations.
Henry stated:
“When the police came to our community, they invited my father for interrogation. He even called me before heading to the station. But hours later, I received a call that he had collapsed and was taken to the hospital.”
He further revealed that when his brother, John Atideka, visited the hospital, he found three policemen guarding their father. However, upon returning later, his father was nowhere to be found, and hospital staff informed him that he had died.
“The rise in his blood pressure caused by false accusations is what killed him. My father was a respected man in Badagry. He didn’t kill anyone. The police need to conduct a proper investigation,” Henry insisted.
Unanswered Questions
Dr. Olatunde Bakare, the Medical Director of General Hospital Badagry, confirmed that Atideka was admitted and died within three hours but stated that no tests had been conducted to confirm the exact cause of death.
“We don’t know if he ingested poison or if it was a case of high blood pressure,” Dr. Bakare said.
The tragic event has left the community in shock, with unanswered questions surrounding Atideka’s involvement and death. The police are expected to continue investigations to determine the true events that led to this devastating incident.
Stay with NIGPOST for updates on this developing story.
Leave a Reply