A 51-year-old trader and mother of three, Sarah Bakare, who lives on
Oluwole Street in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State, narrowly escaped being
hacked to death recently, by the landlady and her seven children.
Narrating the incident, the victim told Crime Alert after she was discharged from hospital that she was lucky to be alive to relive her ordeal.
How trouble started
She recalled that trouble started after she rented a room and
parlour self- contained apartment last year January for which she paid
N250,000. According to her, “A few months after I moved into the house, I
began to experience different attacks from the landlady, Madam Lydia
Opetola, and her children.
It all started in the month of March last year when I noticed that
one of the landlady’s sons was fond of peeping through the door each
time I was in the bathroom. At first, I ignored it but when it
continued, I brought the issue to the notice of his mother. Instead of
calling her son to order, she accused me of not allowing her children to
live in peace in their father’s house.
So, I went to the agent to complain because before I rented the
apartment, I made enquiries through the agent and he assured me that the
house was okay, not knowing he was only interested in the
commission. “From peeping scenario, the landlady’s children began to
turn off the source of water which also happened each time I was in the
bathroom as midway, the water would stop flowing and I would have to
come out of the bathroom with soap all over my body.
“At that time, I didn’t have a water reservoir. When it continued, I
met the landlady and complained to her again. Then one day, five of her
children challenged for daring to ask their mother why they often turn
off the tap from the control source. Again, I reported this incident to
the agent who pleaded on their behalf. Later, I was able to acquire a
water reservoir to avoid trouble, and I was also forced to pay N10,000
as collateral for damages.”
Rent renewal
“After my rent expired, I paid N130,000 to my landlady on February
2, 2015 and for about a month, they didn’t trouble me or my children but
in April, they renewed the attacks. Sometimes, I would buy water
outside to allow peace reign. I then only fetched water when they were
not in the house. I practically lived in fear. If I had known, I would
have looked for another place when my rent expired.”
My ordeal
“One Sunday, I returned from church and discovered that that they had
inserted sticks in the pipes outside and blocked flow of water to my
bathroom and kitchen. At this point, I invited some landlords in the
area to come and see what was happening and that the attacks and
humiliation had become unbearable for me. Seven of the landlady’s
children attacked me for calling the landlords and allowing them into
the compound.
My landlady walked out on them, saying she had nothing to discuss
with them. The landlords then advised that if they didn’t want me to
live in the house any longer, they should refund the rent I paid so that
I could move out instead of not allowing me to have peace. Their
response was that they did not have the money to refund and that I
should continue till November when my rent would expire.
In the month of August when my landlady requested for money for
electricity bill, I told her to use part of my outstanding N15,000
balance with her. “About two weeks ago, they disconnected electricity
supply to my apartment. When there is power supply I won’t have
electricity. I kept mute as I could not query them for fear of being
attacked. On Thursday, October 14, I didn’t have water.
So, I went to fetch water from the tap outside my apartment.
Immediately I opened the tap, one of the landlady’s sons, Folorunsho,
hit me with a plank and I fell down. Before I realised what happened to
me, all the seven descended on me, hitting me with different objects. I
started shouting for help but as I was shouting, they put on their
generator so that people would not hear my voice.
While this was going on, the landlady kept threatening that they
would kill and bury me inside the compound and nobody would know. They
also attacked my daughter who ran to my aid when she heard my cries. One
of them broke a bottle which they used to stab me on the face.
“All attempts by neighbours to rescue me failed as they attacked
anyone who entered the compound. Maybe, I would have died if the
neighbours had not called OPC members who rescued me and my daughter.
Immediately the OPC came into the compound, some of the children
escaped.”
Eyewitness accounts
A neighbour, Olanrewaju Afolayan, who owns a shop in the
neighbourhood, came to Sarah’s rescue. According to the neighbour, “On
that day, I heard noise and I ran to where it was coming from. I tried
to go into the compound but a male voice warned that I should not
intervene. I defied the threat and found my way in to help Madam Sarah. I
was given a slap and beaten with a plank, too.”
Another eyewitness who gave her name as Mrs Kashimu also alleged that
Mrs Opetola and her children were brutal. She said, “It was my son who
called my attention to what was happening. But I did not take it serious
until he told me that our neighbour who went in to help was beaten up.
Thank God for some neighbours who alerted the OPC men. I feel it was a
planned work, an attempt to kill Sarah.
They even went to put on the generator so that the sound could cover
up her cries for help. I want them to pay for what they have done
because this is not the first time they would do that. Every other
tenant that has lived with them has never known peace. They really
surprise us with their attitude. I want justice for Sarah so that it
will not repeat itself with another person. They are a real terror in
our community.”
Landlady disappears with family
When Crime Alert visited the scene of the incident at No 21,
Oluwole Street, Ejigbo, neither the landlady nor her children were
available for comment. It was said that the entire family had
disappeared after they were released on bail and told to report to the
police station on Monday, last week.
Sarah said she suspects foul play in the way the Police in Ejigbo
Division is handling the matter. “The police told me that the lawyer who
came for the release of my landlady and her children dropped a fake
address and that when he was contacted by the IPO whose name was given
as Sergeant Joy, he told them his clients were not disposed to appear at
the station.
“When my landlady and her children were released last Friday and got
back to the compound on Saturday, I was in my room when I heard the
children asking if I was still here, and that they would kill me. I
called the IPO and informed her. The police came to the house this
Monday, my landlady and her children did not show up at the police
station.
“I have spent over N30,000 so far on treatment at the Isolo General
Hospital. I am calling on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to
please intervene in this matter. The police at Ejigbo are not handling
the case as they should. The Opetolas should be fished out from their
hiding place.”
When Crime Alert contacted DSP Joseph Offor, the Lagos
State Police Public Relations Officer, for his comment, he did not
respond to calls and text messages sent to him.
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