A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Charles Atideka, aged 63, has reportedly died after allegedly killing three individuals over a land dispute in Lagos State.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the tragic incident on Thursday in Badagry. According to the command, the retired police officer allegedly shot and killed two family members and one other individual on Tuesday. The victims were identified as Mr. Richard Atideka, Mrs. Latevi Atideka—both from the Yovoyan community—and Mr. Muji Onilude from the neighbouring Gberefu community. The assailant was reportedly assisted by an unidentified accomplice.
Mr. David Atideka, who survived the attack, recounted the horrifying incident. He said the shooting occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. in the Atideka compound.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that after the killing, the ex-police officer allegedly ingested a poisonous substance.
Hundeyin said, “The suspect in the incident is dead. He killed three people and allegedly took poison after committing the act. He was thereafter rushed to the hospital, where the doctor confirmed him dead. His corpse and those of the victims have been deposited in the morgue.”
However, Henry Atideka, the son of the deceased, disputed the claim that his father committed suicide. He stated that his father collapsed and died on his way to the Badagry Police Station after being invited for interrogation as the prime suspect.
Henry narrated, “When the police visited our community shortly after the incident, my father was invited to the station in Badagry for interrogation as the prime suspect. Around 8:30 a.m., my father prepared to go to the police station and called to inform me. But around 12:30 p.m., someone called to inform me that he had been admitted to General Hospital Badagry after collapsing and being rushed there.”
He further explained that his brother, John Atideka, went to the hospital and found their father in the intensive care unit, guarded by three policemen. John reportedly paid for admission and some drugs before leaving to change clothes.
“When my brother returned around 3:30 p.m., he could not find my father or the three policemen at the unit. Upon inquiry, a nurse informed him that our father had died. That was when he called me,” Henry said.
Henry claimed that when he arrived at the hospital at about 4:00 p.m., he was initially denied access to his father’s body. After contacting the Divisional Police Officer, he was finally allowed to see his father’s remains.
“I saw his cold body—he was dead. The rise in his blood pressure, caused by the various accusations, was what killed him. My father was a respected member of the Badagry community. He didn’t kill anyone. The police should conduct a thorough investigation to find the real culprit so his soul can rest in peace,” he pleaded.
Dr. Olatunde Bakare, the Medical Director of General Hospital Badagry, confirmed that the deceased was brought to the hospital in the afternoon and died approximately three hours later.
Dr. Bakare stated, “The hospital has not conducted any tests to determine the exact cause of death. We do not know whether the deceased committed suicide by swallowing something or if his death was due to a rise in blood pressure.”
