Okada Robbers Kill Mother Of 5

A 42-year old mother of five and a divorcee, Mrs Rashedatu Adebowale, has been shot dead by a 3-man robbery gang operating on a motorcycle.

The incident happened along Jonathan Coker Road beside Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, mega station at Iju, Fagba, Lagos state, southwest Nigeria.

The slain woman, Mrs Rashedatu Adebowale
 

According to one of the sons of the deceased, Jimoh Shobowale who is about 10 years old, when the three men riding on a motorcycle came to where the deceased was selling engine oil by the roadside, they told her that they had come to collect their money and she asked them which money were they talking about and that she had only N500 on her.

Narrating further, Jimoh said his mother initially thought they were joking with her until two of the men came down from the motorcycle and forcefully collected his mother’s handbag and as they were about to go, the one who sat at the back shot his mother.

“Three men came here on Okada and they told my mother they had come to collect their money and my mother asked them ‘which money? I only have N500’. Then two of them came down from the okada and collected my mother’s handbag by force.

“As the men onOkada wanted to go, the one at the back brought out a gun and shot her,” said Jimoh.

The deceased, who hailed from Egba in Ogun state, southwest Nigeria, was later rushed to Ayodele Specialist Hospital on a tricycle where she was certified dead by the doctor on duty.

Speaking with P.M.NEWS at the scene, an eye witness who did not want her name mentioned, said she believes the deceased knew one of the robbers because before the robbers shot her, she overheard her mention one of the robbers’ name and saying why was he doing that to her.

“I am very sure that she knew one of them because she mentioned one of them by name, but I can’t really remember the name that she called and said ‘why are you doing this to me’ before she was shot,” said the eyewitness.

The landlady of the deceased, Mrs. Anike Telani of 1, Adepitan Street, Iju Station, where the deceased resided, described her as an easy-going person who loved everyone around her and did not make trouble.

“She was a lovely person and she did not look for trouble. She minded her business,” said Mrs. Telani. Neighbours told P.M.NEWS that they did not know her husband or relatives because she moved into the area with only her kids.

The names of the children were given by her neigbhours as Jimoh, 10, Rasheeda, Waheed and Rashedi, but the neighbours did not know the name of the fifth child, a girl, who is said to be living in Abeokuta with a relative.

The producer of Grassroots Matters, a television programme, Mr. Lawrence Okesola, blamed the recent killings and robbery attacks in Iju area on lack of security, saying the police should intensify their efforts to protect life and property of the residents..