Afeez Hanafi

A gang of assailants, suspected to be ritual killers, has wreaked havoc on a family of six in Adeke bus stop, Adamo , Imota , in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The couple – Taofiq Agbaje and Simiat Agbaje, 32, – and two of their four children , Rodiat, 10, and eight-year – old Toyeebat, were hacked to death by the gang.

The two other siblings , Mardiya, 13 and her one -year -old sister reportedly sustained injuries.

This happened barely three weeks after another couple and their only child were murdered in Ibese Titun, a neighbouring community,
The attacks were allegedly perpetrated by members of a notorious gang called Badoo.

In what seemed to be their usual modus operandi , PUNCH Metro gathered that the attackers gained entrance into the Agbajes’ three – bedroomed flat in the night after tearing the window net and removing some burglar – proof bars.

They were said to have smashed some objects on their victims and wiped away their blood with handkerchiefs, leaving them for dead.

Our correspondent gathered that a neighbour, who had gone to get lemon juice from the family around 6am on Tuesday, saw the victims and called for help.

It was gathered that Taofiq and two children died on the spot, while his wife , Rodiat , and the toddler were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

The case was reported at the Imota Police Division.
Simiat ’ s uncle , Adisa Ismaila , said he was at work on Tuesday when he received the tragic news.

“ On getting to the house, I met the corpses of her husband and two children on the ground . There was a big stone beside them . The gang wiped their blood with a piece of cloth. The mother and the two other children were taken to the hospital, while we buried the deceased according to Islamic rites.

“ The following day, the mother also gave up the ghost. We buried her beside them . Mardiya and her sister have recovered and have been taken to our hometown in Iwo ( Osun State ) for proper care. When policemen from the division asked Mardiya what transpired , she could not explain, ” he said.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that a generator was working at the time of the attack , adding that its noise deafened the neighbours.

He said , “ Around 6am, one of the neighbours, a woman , needed lemon for her child , who was having a stomach ache . She went to get it from Iya Mardiya (Simiat). She saw Mardiya crawling on the passage. She could no longer talk. She pointed at their room and the woman rushed in only to discover other family members lying helplessly.

“ They used to live in the Agric area. They moved into this area four years ago when they completed their house. We call on the security agencies to please do something. ”

A community leader , who did not want his name in print for security reasons, lamented that “ there is little or no improvement , ” despite several petitions to Governor Akinwumi Ambode and some other commissioners in the state.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous -Cole, said identities of the assailants had yet to be known.

He said , “ The command responded to a distress call from a resident and discovered that one Taofeek Agbaje and his family were attacked at night by unknown persons . As a result, Mr . Agbaje and his two daughters , between seven and nine years , died , while his wife and two other daughters, aged two and 12 years, sustained injuries respectively and were taken to a hospital. Investigations are in progress.

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