Joy Anyim
Life has not been the same for the family of Owolabi Lawal since Monday, May 13, 2019, when their 14-year-old son, Oluwapelumi, was stabbed to death by a schoolmate.
Like every other child, Oluwapelumi Lawal, a JSS 2 student of Government Junior College, Ajara, Badagry, had left home for school at about 7:30am on the fateful day.
As a routine, he had left home with a T-shirt to change into after school, before proceeding to a workshop where his parents had enrolled him, as an apprentice electrician.
At 2:30pm, when the school bell rang, signfying the close of school, Oluwapelumi had immediately changed into his T-shirt, walked down to Ajara Grammar School, not too far from his school, to board a bike.
With the bike fare being N100, Oluwapelumi, who thought of cutting cost had signalled a schoolmate, simply identified as Deji, to pair with him for the N100 fare.
It was learnt that earlier, the 13-year-old Deji, who sneaked a knife to school, was brandishing same in class, threatening that blood would flow, and that someone must be stabbed with the knife.
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On sighting Oluwapelumi, Deji quickly remembered the deceased was owing him N50. Deji had asked him to pay him or he would deal with him.
While Oluwapelumi argued with the suspect on the debt, and other students watched, thinking it would lead to a casual fight, Deji was said to have brought out the knife from his school bag and stabbed Oluwapelumi on the neck.
Oluwapelumi bled profusely. While students rushed to call the school’s attention to the incident, he had lost too much blood. He was immediately rushed to the Badagry General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
The school authority alerted the Badagry Police Division, which deployed policemen to the scene. The suspect was arrested and taken away.
The Nigerian Xpress correspondent visited the police division to find out the state of investigation, but the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Tijani Oluwakemi referred the correspondent to the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO).
When the PPRO, Elkana Bala, a Deputy Suprintendent of Police, was contacted for comments, he simply said: “We are aware of the matter and investigation is still ongoing. It is a rather unfortunate incident.”
The Nigerian Xpress also made effort to reach the father of the deacesed, Mr. Owolabi Lawal, an indigene of Ogun State.
The distraught father, who was lost in thought when the correspondent approached him, not too far from the police division, was surrounded by family members and friends.
He betrayed his emotion, weeping profusely when the correspondent stated the reason for wanting to see him.
In a very low tone, Lawal said he was waiting for the next step on the matter, “Should I be the one burying my child; why has this cruel fate befallen me? Who did I offend?” he asked in tears.
Speaking further on his son’s character and how he got the news of his death, the father of five said, “Oluwapelumi was the second of my five children. He was a good boy and very intelligent. I had good plans for my son; I wanted him to study to the university since I did not have the opportunity to do so, but now see how it has all ended.
“He was a quiet boy. You would hardly hear him talking. Whenever you see him, he is either busy with his assignment from school or from the workshop where I enrolled him to train as an electrician.
“He never told me he had a problem with anyone at school or that anyone was threatening him. I am yet to know why the boy killed my son. Some people told me, it was because of N50. I don’t even know the boy, as his friend; I have never seen them together.
“What even pains me more about my son’s death is that on the day the incident happened, the school authority did not even call me until about 8pm when a teacher came to my house.
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“If the incident happened about 2:30pm, why did it take the school authority such time to reach me. My wife and I were at our places of work, thinking our son had, after school, had gone to the workshop, not knowing he was dead. It was even a neighbour’s daughter, who attends Ajara Grammar School that first came to tell me that night that something had happened to my son before the school teacher came.
“The school claimed they were calling my number and that of my wife and it was not going through, which I don’t understand why. My phone was on all day. At this point, all I want is justice. Even the family of the boy that killed my son has not shown up. I am yet to even see them.”
The correspondent also visited the school for comment but was stopped at the gate by personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) and some local government security operatives.
The security personnel referred the correspondent to the Ministry of Education, Alausa, Lagos State, and also requested the correspondent to leave the school premises immediately.
A call was put across to the spokesperson for the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr. Segun Ogundeji, who confirmed the incident.
Ogundeji said it was too early to comment so as not to jeopardise investigation.
“Yes, it is true the incident happened. The police are investigating. However, the incident happened outside the school. One of the students had already undressed. I don’t even know if they had a carryover of an issue. It is, however, too early to comment on the matter so that it will not jeopardise investigation.
“If the minor is found guilty after investigation, the ministry will allow the law to take its course, except if the family can be pacified, which is not for us to decide. We, however, wait for the police report.”
Asked on what the ministry is doing to put an end to the growing rate of gangsterism and violence in government-owned schools across the state, the spokesperson said, “Security rests with the police. The ministry will never allow any child come to school armed, except with their books, pen and other materials to aid learning.
“When outside the school, the parents take responsibility of training and ensuring the children are law-abiding. When they break the law, the police are there to do the needful. I must state that security is a responsibilty of not just the government, but everyone, the police and every other security agency must be up and doing. If some students go out, and get involved in any violent act, and the police arrest them, I think it will serve as a deterrent to others.”
The Nigerian Xpress further learnt that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba.
The correspondent was at the police formation to ascertain the state of investigation. It was learnt that the father of the suspect had led family members to plead with the deceased’s family.
The suspect’s family have asked the Lawal family to forgive their son for causing them the irreparable loss and pain. It was learnt further that Deji’s father had agreed to take care of the burial expenses and also compensate the family for their loss.
A police source also disclosed that Mr. Lawal has written a letter of withdrawal of interest to pursue the case, after accepting the plea from the suspect’s family.