Evelyn Usman
20 September 2008
Like every young lady, 22-year-old Ganiyat Osumare, a citizen of the Benin Republic but a Nigerian by birth, was full of hopes for a brighter future.
However, with the death of Ganiyat's father, her hope of going to higher institution, a platform she considered the basis of success, got dashed. This was because her father's demise saddled her mother, a petty trader, with the sole responsibility of shouldering the family's upkeep . But she managed to go through her primary and secondary schools which she completed two years ago in Sango High School, Agege.
Thereafter, she started learning hairdressing and graduated in July 2008, before her services as a hair stylist was engaged at Ajao estate, where she was managing to, at least, fend for herself and at the same time started saving towards acquiring a shop of her own.
But while Ganiyat was struggling to actualise her dream, unknown to her, fate had another bargain for her because as you read this story, Ganiyat is being detained at the dreaded State Criminal Investigations Department(SCID), Panti, in Yaba area of Lagos, for allegedly stabbing a 22- year- old man to death!
Penultimate day, the quiet atmosphere at number 47 , Majekodunmi street, Shogunle, was disrupted as early as 8.30am by the unexpected presence of stern -looking policemen, on August 22. On sighting the policemen, residents of the building commonly referred to as, 'face-me-I face-you', scurried into their apartments. But upon announcing the name of Ganiyat as the person they had come for, the apprehensive tenants started coming out of hiding, to find out what their mission exactly was.
Oblivious of what had occurred the previous night, Ganiyat's mother with a wrapper tied across her chest and out of concern, approached the policemen who, to her shock and disbelieve, informed her that her daughter was responsible for the death of someone. The helpless widow watched as her daughter was whisked into the police waiting van. Destination was Shogunle police division.
While reports had it that the deceased identified as Nathaniel Udo from Akwa-Ibom state, was Ganiyat's boyfriend and was allegedly stabbed following her discovery that he was cheating on her, Ganiyat in this interview with Crime Guard denied the report, saying she never had any intimate relationship with the deceased. Although she admitted to have used the knife on the deceased , an action she described as 'unintentional during a scuffle between them,' she said she did it to prevent the deceased from carrying out an earlier threat of rape.
Excerpt:
"My name is Ganiyat Osumare. My parents are from Cotonou, Benin Republic but I was born and brought up here in Lagos. I live with my mother at number 47, Majekodunmi street in Shogunle area of Oshodi and my father is late. I attended Folarunmi primary school and Sango high school, Agege where I passed out in year 2006.
Immediately I completed my secondary school education, I registered as a stylist in a saloon and graduated this year in the month of July . I was working for someone in Ajao Estate before my arrest.
"I knew Nathaniel (deceased). He lived on the same street with me. It all started about four months ago when Nathaniel approached me and asked me to be his girl friend. But I turned him down saying I did not want to have anything to do with men that I needed to face my life and have something tangible before I would start thinking of having an affair with men.
"But he would not listen to my explanation. Rather, whenever he saw me anywhere, he would continue to disturb me .There was even a time I went to Shogunle market and he, unknown to me, followed behind. At a point, he grabbed my hand and said he had been talking to me but that I refused and said that one day he would rape me. I told him that was not possible and when I got home, I reported him to my uncle.
Then on Monday the 21st day of August at about 10 pm, I went to buy food and on my way back, one of his neighbours called him to come and see his wife passing. Immediately he came out and grabbed me from behind and started rough handling me. I was struggling and at the same time asked him to leave me alone but he refused. In the process, I picked a knife from a nearby orange tray in front of their compound and threatened to use it on him if he continued hurting him. But he dared me to and at a point, he started struggling for the knife with me and in the process, it pierced into his chest.
I did not know it was that serious because after the incident, a boy from their compound rushed out and thinking that it was not a major injury, asked me to go home, only for me to be accosted by policemen the following day that my attention was needed at the station where I was told Nathaniel was dead," she concluded and started crying.
Crime Guard gathered that the deceased condition deteriorated moment after he was stabbed in the chest. He was reportedly rushed to two hospitals where he was said to have been rejected on the ground that the case was beyond their handling.
Unfortunately, he gave up the ghost in one of the hospital he was taken to. He was said to have died as a result of internal bleeding.
Sources at the Homicide section of the SCID intimated Crime Guard that investigations into the case would soon be concluded and the suspect charged to court.
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