…Family seeks justice
By Kayode Olabanji, Okitipupa
|
A 17 year-old boy, Beke Meretighan, has been strangulated by a yet-to-be-identified man, suspected to be a madman in Arogbo, Ese Odo local government area of Ondo State.
A source told The Hope Metro that the madman killed the JSS 3 student, who was writing his Junior West African Examination at Ijaw National High School Arogbo, Ese Odo LG.
The Hope Metro gathered that the madman ran into the school premises pursuing the students as they were shouting, “were madman!!!.”
He was reported to have grabbed the boy, put his head under his armpit and strangulated him to death.
It was gathered that the madman had carried out the dastardly act before the arrival of the school management.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the corpse of the boy had been deposited in the morgue, while the madman was arrested and taken to Akure police headquarters.
Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Funmi Odunlami-Omisanya, who confirmed the incident to The Hope Metro said the investigation was ongoing.
Meanwhile, the family of the boy has called for justice over the untimely death of their son.
According to the victim’s father, Mr Festus Meretighan, who spoke on behalf of the family, appealed to the government, traditional rulers in the area, and the good people of the state to fight for him.
He lamented that there have not been any cogent investigations carried out since the incident happened because he is poor and did not have money to give to the police.
He said, “I do not have money to investigate the matter, the story was only narrated to me. The incident did not happen in my presence.”
“But according to the story that I was told, the suspect succeeded in carrying out his evil act due to negligence on the part of the school management.
“The students said they ran to inform the principal, but it was too late before he got to the scene. He only met the lifeless body of their friend on the ground. They said the gateman was also not at his duty post.
“I can not confirm if the suspect was truly a mad person because I was not allowed to see him. I was only told that the suspect has been arrested by the police.
“I was taken to the morgue to see the lifeless body of my son, and invited to the police station to write a statement,” he said.
Efforts to speak with the school management proved abortive as the call put across to the school principal, Mr. Kpekpe Eric, did not go through.