Car wash operator kills neighbour over gate closure

A car wash operator, Sheriff Balogun, has been arrested for allegedly killing his neighbour, Peter Elebo, during a fight over the time to close the gate of their place of residence at No. 32 Ola Street, Itire, Lagos State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday, that during the fight, Balogun pushed Elebo to the ground, adding that the latter started vomiting blood and died on the spot.

He stated that the deceased’s daughter, Faith, reported the incident at the Itire Police Division, where personnel were mobilised to arrest Balogun, adding that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.


He said, “On Saturday, January 11, 2020, around 7.20am, one Faith Elebo, of No. 32 Ola Street, reported at the Itire Police Station that around 1.30am, one Sheriff Balogun, 35, who lives in the same compound with them, had a fight with her father, Peter Elebo, about when to close the compound’s gate.

“Sherif Balogun pushed down Peter Elebo, who started vomiting blood and died on the spot. Homicide detectives led by the Itire Divisional Police Officer, SP Barkfur Kromkyes, visited the scene. The corpse of the deceased person was evacuated to the mortuary for autopsy. The suspect was arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for discreet investigation and prosecution.”

In another development, a mentally-ill man, Badejo Adewale, has allegedly set one Bolatito Kadara ablaze on Hogan Bassey Street, in the Surulere area of the state.

Elkana said the victim was taken to hospital for treatment, adding that Adewale was taken to a psychiatric hospital in Yaba and that efforts to interview him proved abortive as he did not utter a word.

He stated, “On Thursday, January 9, 2020, around 7.08am, one Adeola Kadara of No. 13 Aiyeleto Street, Surulere, reported at the Surulere Police Station that she received an information that on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, her brother, Bolatito Kadara, was set ablaze on Hogan Bassey Street, Surulere, and was taken to the Lagos Island General Hospital. Police detectives visited the scene and proceeded to the Lagos Island General Hospital, where the victim was seen recuperating.

“He made a statement to the police and narrated how one Badejo Adewale, who is mentally-ill, poured petrol on him and set him ablaze. Investigation was extended to the psychiatric hospital in Yaba, where the suspect was admitted. Efforts made to interview him proved abortive as he could not utter a word. Investigation is ongoing.”