Man Kills Three Over Plan to Testify in Court

• SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that two of the victims were relatives of the suspected gunman

Tragedy struck the peaceful Yovoyan community near Gberefu Beach in Badagry, Lagos State, as three elderly residents were gunned down in a shocking case of suspected murder and conspiracy.

The incident, which occurred on April 1, 2025, has sent waves of grief and fear across the region.

According to the Lagos State Police Command, the victims — Muji Onilude (75), Richard Atideka (70), and Charity Atideka (59) — were allegedly shot by Charles Atideka, who is believed to have carried out the deadly attack to prevent them from testifying against him in court.

Victims Targeted Over Court Testimony

Police spokesperson SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that two of the victims were relatives of the suspected gunman.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the deceased suspect feared that the witnesses’ testimony in an ongoing case would lead to his conviction.

“To prevent this, he killed them and fled. Unfortunately, he was arrested the next day and rushed to the hospital, where he later died,” Hundeyin said.

The exact cause of Charles Atideka’s death is yet to be determined. Police have ordered an autopsy amid unconfirmed reports surrounding the circumstances.

The victims were pronounced dead at the Badagry General Hospital and their remains deposited in the hospital morgue.

Accomplice Arrested, Investigation Transferred to SCID

Meanwhile, police apprehended a suspected accomplice, 33-year-old Bright Sonu, at the crime scene. He is currently in custody, assisting with the investigation.

The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba for deeper inquiry.

Police are also probing possible motives, including family disputes or long-standing land conflicts within the community.

In a separate incident in the Ikotun area of Lagos, Wapress reports that police arrested a 23-year-old man, Sodiq Ojolowo, for allegedly raping a 47-year-old woman.

He is also accused of attacking a neighbour who attempted to intervene. The incident occurred in the early hours of March 26.

Both the rape victim and the assaulted neighbour are receiving treatment, while Ojolowo remains in custody.

SP Hundeyin urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement authorities. He reiterated that investigations into both cases are ongoing.