Ifeoluwa Oyeleke, the mother of a 14-year-old girl, Jumoke Monsurat, who was killed by a stray bullet during the Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos on Saturday, has narrated hoe the police threatened to shoot her when she asked for her daughter’s corpse.
The windowed mother, who said she’s yet to see the corpse of her child, added that the policemen also threatened to fire a teargas canister at her and her brother who visited the police station to recover her corpse.
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that the deceased, a yoghurt seller was killed by stray bullet reportedly fired by a security operative at the Yoruba Nation agitators protesting at the Ojota area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that the teenager was displaying her drinks at a shop when the bullet hit her.
The distraught mother-of-four told PUNCH that the victim was her first child.
Ifeoluwa, who was was barely audible, narrated how she was informed of her daughter’s demise.
She said “I got a call while I was in Ikeja where I had gone to work.
“When I asked to know what it was about, I was told that there was no issue but that my presence was needed at home.
“It was when I got home that I learnt of what had happened. I was told that the bullet shot by the police killed my daughter.”
Ifeoluwa stated that she had yet to see the corpse of her daughter since she got the news of her death yesterday.
“They’ve not released her corpse to us. I and my brother, under last night’s rain, got there, but were not allowed in. We heard them saying that if we stayed too long, they will shoot our legs and fire a teargas canister at us.
“After a while, my brother discussed with them and they allowed us in to see their Area Commander who said he heard that shots were fired but that he didn’t know which station the officers behind it came from. “
“He said this could be determined when the extracted bullet is examined.”
When asked if the police had told her anything about her daughter’s corpse, she said no, adding that she didn’t know where they took it to.
She stated that she would love to have a lawyer who would help her seek justice concerning the death of her daughter.
Speaking further, Ifeoluwa revealed that Jumoke was an apprentice at an ice cream shop and had just concluded Junior Secondary School education.
“She usually sat in the shop and never hawked.
“She had three siblings who are all girls. Her dad is dead,” she said; adding, “Jumoke was a good girl who hardly got annoyed; she was hard working.
“Anyone who can rise to our defence should please do,” she pleaded.
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