I only pushed her head—Suspect

By Bartholomew Madukwe

A 30-year-old woman, Kumebi Afi, has been arrested by policemen at Amukoko Police Station for allegedly beating her husband’s three-year-old niece, Emeli Tope, to death.

Afi, a Togolese, who resides at 88, Yatuwo Street, Orile area of Lagos, was said to have beaten Tope, Sunday night, for going to eat at a neighbour’s house.

Nigerian Police

Narrating what happened, Afi told Vanguard that she was having health challenges and could not have beaten the deceased.

She said: “I came back from where I used to sell Adoyo and went to my neighbour’s house where I met Tope eating. I have told her several times not to be eating in people’s homes, because you cannot really tell the mind of people.

“When I took her home, I just pushed her on the head and asked her why she ate at the neighbour’s place. Although I used to beat her, but that Sunday I did not beat her. After a while, my neighbour’s started shouting at me that I have beaten Tope to death.

“I started wondering what could have happened. I quickly took her to a nearby hospital and the doctor said she was already dead. While I was at the hospital, I was informed that the police were holding my husband until I show up. So I went there.”

Asked how she felt knowing that Tope was dead, Afi said she wish death could take her away too, because the government and people would say she killed her.

She said parents of the deceased requested that the body be brought home.

Refusing to say anything on the matter, the police noted that information can only come from its Public Relations Office and not Amukoko Police Station.