Gunmen kill businesswoman in Church
By Matthew Dike
Monday, May 4, 2009
Gunmen stormed the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Apapa on Sunday morning, killing a notable businesswoman, Patricia Obii Chidiak during mass.




http://odili.net/news/source/2009/may/4/506.html
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The four-man gang whose motive could not be ascertained at press time arrived the Church located on Creek Road, Apapa, while the 10 o’clock mass was going, shot dead Chidiak, an Imo State-born society lady married to a Lebanese, simply identified as M Habib. The husband is believed to have traveled out of Lagos east weekend with the couple’s children.

Until her life was cut short abruptly on Sunday, Patricia Chidiak was engaged in steel import and construction business with her husband, but the couple’s marriage was alleged to have become frosty lately.

Daily Sun gathered that the gunmen stormed the Church premises for the dastardly act on two motorcycles. They also allegedly were armed with locally made pistols.

Two of the hoodlums went inside the Church premises, while the other two waited on their get-away motorcycles.

The victim who first arrived the Church for the mass, was approached by the gunmen, shot in the ribs region and her handbag was snatched.

In the pandemonium that followed the shooting, the gunmen hurried out of the Church premises, jumped on the bikes and zoomed off.

The deceased’s driver simply identified as Yahaya chased the gunmen using the victim’s Toyota Land Cruiser sport utility vehicle while anti-crime policemen from Apapa also pursued them in a patrol van.

The not chase towards Tin Can Port ended, when tankers parked on the bridge made traffic movement impossible, aiding the escape of the hoodlums.

Yahaya, the victim’s driver told Daily Sun he was sitting in the SUV outside the Church when he heard gunshots inside the church.

He said while wondering what was amiss, he saw one of the gunmen emerge clutching a hand bag he immediately recognized as belonging to his boss. Yahaya said he suspected she had been shot and decided to chase the men on the bikes.

Also speaking with Daily Sun, the cook who claimed to have swerved the deceased for eight years described her as a very nice woman who loved people without discrimination.It was gathered hat her husband left Nigeria last Friday on a trip believed to be to Lebanon with the couple’s children.

Both the Police Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of zone 2, Mohammed Abubakar and Lagos Commissioner of Police, Marvel Akpoyibo visited the scene of the murder as anti-crime detectives launched an immediate investigation.

Contacted for information, Lagos Police spokesman, Frank Mba described it as a tactical case of murder. Mba said the anti-crime police patrol men who chased the gunmen could not fire at them to avoid killing innocent passersby.

The deceased’s corpse has been deposited in the morgue.

Only recently, the Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim set up the Imo Hall of Fame Committee, naming the late Obii Chidiak as member.

Friends and associates who learnt about the society lady’s death yesterday were too shocked, pleading for time to comment on the incident.

Assasinated in the church oga o.
. . . .and they police wud continue to hunt for the killers till the kingdom comes.BTW _{Igbos don dey marry lebanese?}

hhmmm, and the husband was away with the kids on the day she was shot?  

hhmmm, and the husband was away with the kids on the day she was shot?

Cut the bereaved guy some slack please. Why are they pointing fingers at him?. The woman was a socialite and could have stepped on some wrong toes.

Well there are allegations that the husband wanted to marry a lebanese but Chidiak resisted the move.

Cut the bereaved guy some slack please. Why are they pointing fingers at him?. The woman was a socialite and could have stepped on some wrong toes.

In any murder case, the close relative are suspects. This is normal.

Another lesson, it pays to have CCTV atleast you can trace back and have evidence to catch the criminals though too late to protect the woman.

busi-bodi:

In any murder case, the close relative are suspects. This is normal.

Another lesson, it pays to have CCTV atleast you can trace back and have evidence to catch the criminals though too late to protect the woman.

Please tell me you ain't a police officer?

It makes sense to evaluate the crime, crime scene and circumstances surrounding the death BEFORE suspecting anyone. A close relative who is 300 miles away is therefore out of the equation.

By the way, CCTV don't always help solve crime. I can give you countless example if you want.

It makes sense to evaluate the crime, crime scene and circumstances surrounding the death BEFORE suspecting anyone. A close relative who is 300 miles away is therefore out of the equation.

By the way, CCTV don't always help solve crime. I can give you countless example if you want.

there you go, when you watch too much CIS.

so because someone is 300miles away they cant be suspect??

In any murder case, close family are SUSPECT.

That does not mean they are convict or criminal. The key to crime is MOTIVE and less of alibi since that can be bought or fake.

Once motive is established, you can build your case ofcourse crime scene would be checked.

Crimed are solved by combination of many tools, CCTV is surely one of them.

Her husband is also lebanese.

busi-bodi:



there you go, when you watch too much CIS.

so because someone is 300miles away they cant be suspect??

In any murder case, close family are SUSPECT.

That does not mean they are convict or criminal. The key to crime is MOTIVE and less of alibi since that can be bought or fake.

Once motive is established, you can build your case ofcourse crime scene would be checked.

Crimed are solved by combination of many tools, CCTV is surely one of them.

You fail to answer my question if you are a police officer or not. What is CIS? Dude, I did Forensic science in my first year before I changed over. Criminology and forensic cases are part of what makes my course during that time.

You cannot go about suspecting everyone.[Oh thanks, I really do know what a suspect means] You have to look at the circumstances I mentioned earlier.

You are moving away from your point about CCTV. You made your previous point seem like CCTV provides solution to all crimes, hence why I mentioned other wise, and even told you I can give you examples.

The husband is a suspect.

From little we know of the story he has a MOTIVE:

1. check all his phone-calls/text for past 6months

2. check all places he has been for past 6months.

The driver is a suspect.

1. In a shoot-out there is rampage, people panick. So why was he not hiding?

2. His phone/friends/contact for past 6months should be checked.


CCTV camera would have helped in this case, as they were not wearing masks and some stood outside the church.
It would have helped to re-construct the crime scene.

A media story is not a basis for someone to have a motive. The report for all we know may not be accurate, and had to rely on several sources that may not have been mentioned.

Anyway, since you are moving away from your earlier points, it is of no use taking this further.

LMAO @ those talking about CCTV.

The UK has the highest number of CCTV's in the world yet they struggle to nail criminals. Nothing beats eye-witness.

The UK has the highest number of CCTV's in the world yet they struggle to nail criminals. Nothing beats eye-witness.

yet same CCTV helped to tracked down the London Bus bombers.

same CCTV allowed people to see Police pushed down and killed the innocent guy during Sri-Lanka Protests in London

busi-bodi:

yet same CCTV helped to tracked down the London Bus bombers.

same CCTV allowed people to see Police pushed down and killed the innocent guy during Sri-Lanka Protests in London

CCTV's are not conclusive. There are a lot of crimes out there that have not been solved just because the CCTV did not capture the face of the alleged 'whodonit'.
doubt me? check/watch crime watch.

To the bolded, you are actually wrong, that was the G20 protest. The sri lankan protest was a peaceful one.
The video we saw was from a phone camera and not a CCTV.

CCTV's are not conclusive

yet the London Bus Bombers were tracked afterward. indeed.

Hasib Hussain, an 18-year-old from Leeds, is shown in a CCTV image mounting the stairs at Luton station before taking the 7.40am train to King's Cross. There the four bombers split up and launched their attacks during last Thursday's rush hour. A second photo shows the picture from the teenager's driving licence.

i like the way you ignore my other comments.
How about other crimes that were caught on CCTV but the alledged criminals have walked free cos the CCTV did not capture their face?
now there are thousands of cases like that. in most cases, the police call on eye witness(es)

For the record, for CCTV to be admissible in court. A face recognition expert is needed at times.

Suspect no 1 - Mr Chidiak

Reason: Suspicious behaviour. Travelled with all the kids and wifey gets shot the very next day. (AKA: A witch cried yesternight and the child died this morning. Who no no say na d winch kill am )

Investigative strategy: Arrest him and all other lebanese folks living in and around Lagos and subject them to severe torture in a Nigerian police station. Dem go talk true walahi!!!

Suspect No 2: Driver (AKA James Bond)

Reason: Highly suspicious behaviour. A typical Nigerian will take cover and run the opposite direction when he hears a gunshot. Not chase after the robber like James Bond or Jack Bauer. This driver has a case to answer. Beni!!!!

Investigative strategy: Same as number 1 above.


Seriously though, if this crime happened abroad, we would have the police working on some leads by now. Here in Nigeria, half of them have been deployed to Ekiti to monitor elections in 2 local government areas so this one will have to wait. What a country

ElRazur:

For the record, for CCTV to be admissible in court. A face recognition expert is needed at times.

this is true but still not conclusive.
eye witness(es) is/are still a sure bet. even the cops will tell you this.

OMO IBO:

this is true but still not conclusive.
eye witness(es) is/are still a sure bet. even the cops will tell you this.

I think you will find it carries more weight than you think in a court. Below is a definition.

A person whose education, training, and experience can provide the court with an assessment, opinion, or judgment within the area of his or her competence, which is not considered known or available to the general public.

Eyewitnesses account varies, but to be honest, you will find that the above carries more weight in some case than that of an eye witness.

dont get me wrong. CCTV's are great tools but are mainly used to trail the actions of a subjects or objects.

where that subject or object fails to look in the direction of that camera, then it becomes harder to establish the person behind the crime.

OMO IBO:

dont get me wrong. CCTV's are great tools but are mainly used to trail the actions of a subjects or objects.

where that subject or object fails to look in the direction of that camera, then it becomes harder to establish the person behind the crime.

Such "actions" can be used as primary evidence - London bombing comes to mind.

A subject do not necessarily have to look into a camera for it to be used as a form of evidence. Hence, why I mentioned expert witness already. Things like shoe makes, marks, clothes brand and other distinguished marks can be used even if the faces are not readily visible. Hairlines and shapes are just other ways that a suspect "identity" can be established or linked.

ElRazur:

Such "actions" can be used as primary evidence - London bombing comes to mind.

A subject do not necessarily have to look into a camera for it to be used as a form of evidence. Hence, why I mentioned expert witness already. Things like shoe [b]makes[/b], marks, clothes brand and other distinguished marks can be used even if the faces are not readily visible. Hairlines and shapes are just other ways that a suspect "identity" can be established or linked.

the bolded maybe used as supporting evidence. they are by any no means the deciding factor(s).

again, i'll refer you to crimewatch/stoppers. they come on air once a month or so on BBC1. why do they ask for eye witnesses to come forward with any information they may have? why dont they use the CCTV feed they have to nail these criminals? I'll give you an example, a young man escorted a elderly woman to an ATM inside a newspaper agent to collect her money. he threatened to kill/hurt her if she didnt withdraw some money. this incident was caught on CCTV but the police are yet to prove if this guy was behind it. why is this? The guy did not raise his head up. he did not look in the direction of the camera.

ElRazur:


Please tell me you ain't a police officer?

It makes sense to evaluate the crime, crime scene and circumstances surrounding the death BEFORE suspecting anyone. A close relative who is 300 miles away is therefore out of the equation.

By the way, CCTV don't always help solve crime. I can give you countless example if you want.

In the world of sophisticated/civilized and well equiped police command, you will start any murder investigation of this sort by first looking closer to home, husband, wife, children, relatives and business associates before any other option. 80% of murders are committed or arranged by the person known to the victim (fact) but because in Nigeria it's sound taboo for people to believe that a wife had arranged and had her husband murdered or vice visa, therefore thousands of Nigerians had got away with one sort of murder or another.

Just because the husband is thousands of miles away doesn't make him a less suspect, that should even make him more of a suspect because the motive is there: money, children's custody, marriage breakdown.
If you hired assassins to kill for you, you don't stay around, but often as far away as possible to to secure an alibi of being away, but that doesn't wash with serious police investigators. But this is Nigeria with their 18th centuryNigerian police force without any sort of forensic , no autopsy etc.

@OMOIBO

Who says they are the deciding factors?

You made a statement suggesting a CCTV footage may be useless if the face is not readily present or captured, and then I tried to explain to you as to how other things are used.

Eziachi:

In the world of sophisticated/civilized and well equiped police command, you will start any murder investigation of this sort by first looking closer to home, husband, wife, children, relatives and business associates before any other option. 80% of murders are committed or arranged by the person known to the victim (fact) but because in Nigeria it's sound taboo for people to believe that a wife had arranged and had her husband murdered or vice visa, therefore thousands of Nigerians had got away with one sort of murder or another.

Again I disagree. You start by evaluating the crime scene, circumstances, how it was carried out etc BFORE you start drawing up a list of possible suspects. If you we are to use your logic, then everyone is a suspect. This will delay the time it takes to actually getting the high priority suspects and the trail may run cold.

Eziachi:

Just because the husband is thousands of miles away doesn't make him a less suspect, that should even make him more of a suspect because the motive is there: money, children's custody, marriage breakdown.
If you hired assassins to kill for you, you don't stay around, but often as far away as possible to to secure an alibi of being away, but that doesn't wash with serious police investigators. But this is Nigeria with their 18th centuryNigerian police force without any sort of forensic , no autopsy etc.

Just because he is a few miles closer to the scene do not mean he is the main suspect either. Now, if he was 300 miles away at the time of the incident and this was proved and verified. It rules him out as the perpetrator of the crime, hence police focus will be on "who dunnit". It is after then, a link may be established if the husband have anything to do with it.

Well, above will be the way to go. That is the way I understand as to how these things work.

Yeah with Nigeria, it is a whole different ball game I must admit.

Reptyle:

Suspect No 2: Driver (AKA James Bond)

Reason: Highly suspicious behaviour. A typical Nigerian will take cover and run the opposite direction when he hears a gunshot. Not chase after the robber like James Bond or Jack Bauer. This driver has a case to answer. Beni!!!!

Investigative strategy: Same as number 1 above.

They'll check out the husband na. It's routine. But the guy na 'big' man. 'Investigating' him might just mean obsequious policemen who start their cursory questions with, Well done sir.', while the man sips a fine Moet in the police commissioner's office. A few minutes and they'll tell him, 'sorry sa, you can go.Well done sa.'

The only way they can get him- if he did it o!-  is if someone comes forward with information or if they catch the killers.
Poor woman. Obvious arrangee murder. And snatching her bag to make it look like some random robbery. Hm.

I-Detective

Who is the main suspect

a) The Driver : who did not take cover and choose to run after fully armed men ; just to recover a bag

b) The Husband: who traveled along with the kids, when the wife was hit

c) The tanker drivers: who parked along the road; thereby making the chase by the driver to be impossible.


Answer now

^^You cannot base your investigation on what was reported in the press.

ElRazur:

^^You cannot base your investigation on what was reported in the press.

Nicely said!
Also, you cannot comment of what wasn't reported in the press.

Aloy.Emeka:

Cut the bereaved guy some slack please. Why are they pointing fingers at him?. The woman was a socialite and could have stepped on some wrong toes.

ElRazur:


Please tell me you ain't a police officer?

It makes sense to evaluate the crime, crime scene and circumstances surrounding the death BEFORE suspecting anyone. A close relative who is 300 miles away is therefore out of the equation.

By the way, CCTV don't always help solve crime. I can give you countless example if you want.

After watching a 48-hr Marathon on ID channel, you will likely start seeing what I see in that report. Roflmao!!

Even the reporter seems to think the man should be considered as a suspect. Just cause he is 300 miles away does not remove mean he could not have hired the assassins himself. lol roflmao!!