Mob Kills Taxi Driver For Beating Epileptic Patient

A mob has killed a 43-year-old taxi driver, Tunde Adetola, for allegedly beating up an epileptic patient, Friday Williams, in the Onipanu area of Lagos State. The incident happened on Awe Crescent. PUNCH Metro learnt that the taxi driver had visited a drinking joint on Sunday and there was a disagreement between him and the daughter of the owner of the joint. Williams was said to have intervened, which started a fight between him and the deceased. The epileptic patient was reportedly injured during the brawl. Our correspondent learnt that some of Williams’ friends and street urchins decided to avenge the beating. They reportedly swooped on Adetola, bashing him to death. Our correspondent learnt that policemen from the Onipanu division took Adetola’s corpse to a morgue and arrested Williams and one of his friends, Lucky Nnaeto. Speaking with our
correspondent, Williams, who hails from Imo State, denied instigating the mob attack, adding that he had settled the disagreement with the deceased before he was killed. He said, “It happened on Sunday at a popular joint, where we usually have fun. Taxi drivers also come there to enjoy themselves. “I arrived there around 8am. The taxi driver also arrived and saw a food hawker. He asked the girl to serve him food and she did. “The daughter of the owner of the shop was lying on a table, and Adetola ordered her to stand up so he could sit and eat, but she ignored him. “The man felt insulted and subsequently abused the girl, who also replied him. So, I decided to intervene and asked him to get another table. “He began to insult me. He slapped me and boxed me in the mouth. We fought, but he overpowered me.'' Williams said he left the spot and as he approached his house, he met Nneato, a friend in the area. Nnaeto, a motorcycle rider, told our correspondent that he initially thought Williams sustained the injuries during the course of an epileptic seizure. He said, “I saw blood in his mouth and body and asked him if he had had his seizure again, but he said he was beaten up by a taxi driver. “I was angry and when I saw the driver, I confronted him for attacking a sick man. I told him to apologise and pay for his treatment or else I would deflate the tyres of his cab. “The driver called him and they discussed. He gave Williams N500 to treat himself and they settled. “I left them and mounted my motorcycle and left the area.'' Our correspondent learnt that some other friends saw Williams injuries and after he narrated what had happened to him, they decided to revenge the attack. The mob, consisting of tricycle riders and street urchins, reportedly descended on the victim and pummelled him to death. They were said to have fled the scene before policemen got to the spot. The Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said he would get back to our correspondent, but he had yet to do so as of press time. However, a source said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.