Joy Anyim
The police in Lagos is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 16-year-old SS3 student of Jubril Martins Memorial Grammar School, in Iponri area of the state.
It was learnt that the deceased, Adagun Rafiu was writing his WEAC examinations when he was beaten to death by a gardener in the school on Wednesday, May 15.
Reports have it that on the said day, the late Rafiu, who was walking home with his friends after writing his paper for the day, was accosted by the gardener identified as Femi.
The 29-year-old gardener, who claimed the deceased was in the habit of insulting him, said he had his mind made that day to ‘deal’ with Radii that fateful day.
Femi reportedly dragged the deceased forcefully, beat him up until he slumped and became unconscious.
It was further gathered that friends of the deceased immediately alerted the school authority, which quickly took Rafiu to the sickbay to revive him.
He was later transfered to a hospital where he was confirmed dead.
A sister of the deceased, who spoke with our correspondent, said the school lied to the family about how Rafiu died.
According to Adagun Ariat, the school said Rafiu fell and slumped after his exam.
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Ariat said private investigation by the family, however, revealed how her brother died after being beaten by the school gardener.
In her words, “According to the students that were present at the scene, they said after the exam, they were on their way home, and they were having a conversation among themselves, all of a sudden the gardener said he was being indirectly insulted by Rafiu’s utterance.
“This led the gardener into beating him to the extent of using his head to hit the brick wall three times.
“The gardener also punched my brother hard till he slumped and passed out. He was immediately rushed to the school and was taken to the school nurse, who tried to revive him.
“The nurse suggested they rush him to the hospital, on getting to the hospital he was confirmed dead. It was one of the student that was present at the scene that called my father that he should come that Rafiu just slumped.
“When my father got there, they tried to hide what led to his death by feeding him with the wrong information that he slumped and died immediately.
“But my elder brother who went with my father argued with them till he was able to trace some marks on Rafiu’s chest and neck.
“My brother asked them why the mark. It was at this point that we called the student that had informed us of Rafiu’s death to tell us what exactly happened. The student gave us full details of all that happened and how the gardener bullied him to death.”
Contacted to tell the state of investigation, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Elkana Bala, said the gardener was still in police custody.
Bala said, “On May 16, at about 2.40pm, Iponri Police Station received a complaint from Jubril Martins Memorial Grammar School Iponri that on May 15, at about 4.40pm, one Femi Aderonmu, a gardener with the said school engaged the deceased in a fight along Oke-Olu road Iponri.
“In the process, the student fell down and became unconscious and was rushed to Smith Medical Hospital where he later died. Eye witness accounts show that the deceased person was returning home with his friends after writing WAEC and the suspect blocked him on the way and pulled him down, on the accusation that the deceased student had insulted him before.
“Homicide detectives from State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department Yaba, have visited the crime scene. Corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.”
The PPRO said the suspect will be charged to court for murder.
