Two Die in Sallah Tragedy in Lagos

Chiemelie Ezeobi

In two separate incidents, two persons were yesterday night killed during the Sallah celebration around Lagos.

While one of the deceased persons was killed after a drinking spree at the Orile Iganmu area of Lagos, the other person was killed by a hit-and-run driver at the Ikeja area of the state.

The drinking incident was said to have involved the deceased person, who was simply identified as Onyibo, who had engaged in a drinking spree with some of his friends on Adeyeye Street to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir at Orile.

While drinking, he was said to have collapsed and his colleagues, who were afraid of the consequences, were said to have dumped him at a workshop around the area and took to their heels.
According to the police, the deceased was said to have vomited blood while battling with his life before he finally gave up the ghost.

After the case was reported to the Orile Police Station, attempts were made to reach his family members but till press time proved abortive.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior police officer in the station said: “One Asimiu reported that a man popularly known as Onyibo was found dead in his shop at Alafia bus stop.
“Onyibo and his friends, mostly touts and street urchins were seen drinking heavily during the day. They were competing on who would finish some bottles of some locally brewed spirit popularly called ‘Sepe’.

“From what we gathered, It was during the drinking spree that Onyibo collapsed. His friends who tried to revive him immediately took him away.

“When they were unable to bring him back to live, they quickly abandoned him in a workshop and fled for fear of possible arrest by the police.

“According to what we gathered, Onyibo is popular in the area, but no one knows where he came from. We have taken his body away.”

In another development, a moving vehicle at the Ikeja Along Bus Stop area of Ikeja crushed the other victim late last night.

Reports said the deceased was first hit by a Hillux bus, before other vehicles ran him over, leaving only his canvass and torn clothes behind, as well as his battered body.