Lagos-based
human rights crusader, Mr. Olakunle Alexander Fadipe, was killed at home on
Thursday night by a lone assailant.
Fadipe was
stabbed to death in his sitting room at Harmony Estate, College Road, Ogba,
Lagos, at about 11pm.
Fadipe’s
son, Folarin was also stabbed, as was his mother-in-law.
The
suspect was arrested before he could escape from the scene and is now in
security custody at the Olowosokedile Police Station.
Eye
witnesses said he may have gained access into his victims’ residence by scaling
the fence.
He was
said to have first pounced on Folarin when the boy opened the door to go and
switch on the electricity generator.
Folarin,
with blood gushing from the severe knife wounds inflicted on his head and wrist
by the assailant, rushed inside to alert the father to the presence of the
intruder.
The
suspect followed him and upon sighting the lawyer demanded the sum of N500,000,
which the late Fadipe declared he did not have at home.
He offered
a lower amount and any other personal effect, including mobile phones which the
intruder reportedly rejected .
He
insisted on collecting the half a million naira otherwise he would kill someone
He reached
for the lawyer’s mother-in-law, but the lawyer rose to defend the woman, and
Fadipe, according to eyewitnesses, succeeded in wrestling the suspect to the
ground.
In a
twist, however, the intruder gained the upper hand and stabbed Fadipe
repeatedly with a butchers’ knife and a kitchen knife obtained from the late
lawyer’s kitchen.
Sources
said Fadipe, a former member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and
a member of the editorial board of The Guardian Newspaper, was stabbed on the
left side of the neck, armpit, and stomach, losing a lot of blood in the
process.
The
Divisional Police officer (DPO) of the Olowosokedile Police Station, Mr
Olatunji Ajimuda, confirmed the incident.
He said he
received the alert at about 12am.
The police
are already investigating the matter.
Sympathisers,
including the Chairman, Ifako Ijaiye Local Government, Hon. Oloruntoba Oke,
member, Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ifako Ijaiye (II), Hon, Saka
Fafunmi, as well as the former chairman of the council Hon. Demola Doherty,
yesterday visited the house to condole the family.
They
described him as a worthy and courageous lawyer.
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