Armed men
Unknown assailants have killed a 43-year old woman, Temitope Abolarin, at her residence in the Jikwoyi area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, leaving her family demanding justice.
The incident occurred on Wednesday while the deceased was reportedly alone at home, with her husband and father away at work.
Temitope was said to have been attacked by a group of men and later rushed to hospital, where she died from injuries sustained in the assault.
Her brother, Olaitan Balogun, who recounted the incident, said he had travelled to Abuja to see his family after spending considerable time away because of security concerns.
Balogun said he first visited an old university friend before heading to his sister’s residence. While with the friend, he received information that Temitope had been attacked.
He said he immediately set out for the hospital but received another call while on the way from a man who allegedly claimed that a group had been tracking his movements and had expected to find him at his sister’s residence.
“The caller told me that not meeting me at home would not end the matter and threatened consequences for my attempts go evade them,” Balogun narrated.
He said the call became particularly disturbing after he arrived at the hospital and learnt that his sister had died.
Balogun said he did not witness the attack and could not identify those responsible. However, he told the police about the threatening call and his suspicion that the incident could be connected to threats he had previously received following a dispute involving a man whose identify he didn’t reveal as the case is still under investigation.
Balogun said the death had further heightened his family’s concerns about his safety, adding that the only thing the family is asking for is justice.
The circumstances surrounding the attack and the motive of the assailants were not immediately clear.
When our correspondent visited the family home, her husband, children, father and other sympathisers were mourning the deceased.
The husband confirmed that the matter had been reported to the police and appealed to the authorities to ensure that those responsible were identified and brought to justice.
“We have reported the matter to the police and we are waiting for the investigation. We want those responsible for her death to be found and brought to justice,” he said.
The deceased’s father was too distraught to speak with the correspondent and broke down in tears when questions were put to him.
When contacted, the Commissioner of Police in the FCT, CP Sadiq Abubakar, confirmed that the command was aware of the case.
Abubakar said the police were handling the matter and would work to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and apprehend those responsible.
“We are committed to bringing the perpetrators to book as investigation progresses,” Abubakar assured.
The killing is one of several violent incidents reported in different parts of the country in recent times, raising renewed concerns over the safety of residents and the ability of security agencies to identify and prosecute perpetrators.
