Vanguard (Lagos)
Nigeria: Alleged Suicide of Four Year Old - Police Arrest Eight

Dayo Johnson

4 November 2010

Akure — NO fewer than eight persons have been arrested by Police authorities in Ondo State in connection with the death of a 4-year-old boy primary one pupil, Master Akin Akinola at Olafemiwa Street, Odojomo area in Ondo town, who was alleged to have committed suicide.

Police authorities in the state described the incident as suspicious and strange.

Vanguard gathered that residents of the street woke up to the obscene dangling body of the pupil by the window of a house in the street on Tuesday.

The deceased body, a pupil of St Agnes Primary School, Okegbala Ondo was discovered at about 8; 30am by the window of her mother's room.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO of the State Police Command, Mr. Adeniran Aremu, said the police command had commenced in-depth investigation into the death of the pupil and would unearth it soon.

Mr. Aremu confirmed the arrest of the suspects who he said were undergoing interrogation at State Criminal Investigation Department CID of the command.

It was learnt that the mother of the deceased had left home as early as 5am that ill-fated day for the morning market.

Sources said the mother left the deceased and her other children in the custody of a neighbour only for some people to raise alarm that they saw the dangling body of the pupil in the one room apartment of her mother.

The father of the deceased was said to have also died about two years ago.

Speaking yesterday amidst wailing and crying, the mother of the deceased, Mrs. Nike Akinola, said before leaving for the market, she gave N10 each to her children to buy biscuit and sweet pending her return from the morning market by 9am.

According to her, the deceased did not go to School that day because she was yet to sew his uniform for him, adding that her intention was to use the proceed from that day's sales to buy the uniform before news of his death got to her inside the market.

Mrs. Akinola ruled out suicide by her son and said she suspected that he was murdered.

According to her, "l suspect foul play and conspiracy in the death of my son. I believe he was murdered and I know that the police would soon unravel those behind the death of my son.

How could a four-year-old boy commit suicide? He was killed and later made it to look as if he hanged himself.

Meanwhile, reports had it that some traditional chiefs in Ondo town have stormed the house and subsequently sealed it up to allow for some traditional rites which is expected to be performed before the body is lowered from the rope.

Newsmen were barred from the house as police men equally took over the street.

A resident of the town who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he suspects "foul play in the whole matter and that the incident has generated controversies because of the position of the boy with rope on his neck and the height where the rope was tied to a plank in the ceiling of the room.

The hand of the boy could not have been long enough to tie the rope to such a height and hung himself moreover he was found standing on his feet."

The PPRO said the command would soon come out with its findings and pointed out that all the residents of the house have been arrested and are presently in police custody.