Two Mistaken For Ritualists, Escape Death By Whiskers

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Mr. Joseph Agugom and his brother, Paul, escaped death by whiskers after they were attacked for being mistaken as ritualists while taking Joseph’s wife to a mental home in Yaba Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Lawanson Junction in Itire area of Lagos on their way to the hospital.

However, the victims were rescued alive after the intervention of the Police who swiftly moved in and dispersed the crowd.
This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana. He said that on 6th June, 2019, at about 12.45pm, the Command’s control room received a distress call that a mob action is going on at Lawanson Junction, Itire. Anti Crime patrol team led by the Divisional Police Officer Itire, CSP Odey Ogah, was promptly deployed to the scene.

One Justina Emmanuel of No. 10 Bishop Okogie Street Ago and her one and a half year old daughter, Munachisom Agugom, were rescued. Two suspects namely: Joseph Agugom and Paul Agugom, both of the same address with the victims, were rescued from the mob. They were alleged to have kidnapped the victims for ritual purposes. One Honda CRV car with registration number FST 587 BU, one LG Phone, one iPhone, one bag containing two flasks, three pieces of rope, one black Para military belt and one green beret were recovered.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim is married to one of the suspects, Joseph Agugom and the child belongs to both of them. It was also revealed that the victim is suffering from mental illness and she was being taken to the hospital when she raised alarm which made some members of the public to stop the car and descended on the suspects. Members of both the suspects and victims family came to the police station and made statements to the effect that the victim is suffering from mental illness and was actually being transported to the hospital. The other two children of the victim were brought to the station, contrary to the allegations of the victim that they were killed by the husband for money ritual. The victim was later taken to the hospital by the Police for medical examination.

The Police have launched a manhunt for those who participated in the mob action with a view of bringing them to justice. Members of the public are strongly advised to be more careful in order not to jump into conclusions on alarm raised by anybody. Innocent persons have suffered death or bodily harm and inhuman treatment through jungle justice.

The police stated that members of the public have the powers to apprehend anybody suspected of a crime but the law provides that such persons should be handed over to the Police immediately. It is only through investigation that the truthfulness or otherwise of the allegations can be determined. And our laws presume the accused person to be innocent until proven guilty by Courts of competent jurisdiction.