Olaleye Aluko
The Lagos State police command has arrested a man, Daniel Okorie, for allegedly stabbing his friend, Onyeka Jackson, to death in the Iyana Isashi area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Okorie, who worked as a cook, was wanted by the police for beating up a female customer, allegedly killed Jackson for reporting him to the police station.
Our correspondent learnt that Okorie stabbed Jackson on the neck when he visited the suspect’s apartment at Clinic Bus stop, Iyana Isashi.
It was gathered that the incident occurred around 6.30am on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 and was reported at the Isashi Police Division.
Our correspondent learnt that Okorie, who hails from Ebonyi State, and Jackson worked as cooks in the Ijanikin area.
It was gathered that a week before the incident, a female customer was allegedly beaten up by Okorie, and the woman reported the incident at a police station.
Okorie was said to have fled the store while the policemen, who launched a manhunt for him, arrested Jackson and asked him to produce his friend.
PUNCH Metro learnt that when Jackson left the police station, he headed for Okorie’s rented apartment on Tuesday, and told him to report himself to the police.
Okorie was said to have become infuriated and an altercation ensued, during which the suspect allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed his colleague. Jackson was said to have been rushed to a private hospital in the area, where he was confirmed dead.
When our correspondent visited Okorie’s apartment, a neighbour, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the suspect thought his colleague reported the assault to the police.
He said, “They both worked in a store in Ijanikin. They have another store in Iyana Era area. Sometime last week, Daniel (Okorie) beat up a woman, who was one of their customers. The woman went to the police station to report.
“When the policemen came, Daniel had run away. So, the policemen arrested Jackson when they could not find Okorie. When Jackson was released, the first place he went to was Daniel’s place, warning him to turn himself in to the police.
“Daniel became angry, thinking that it was his friend who reported him to the police. An argument ensued and he stabbed him with a knife. He lost a lot of blood. He stabbed him in three places.”
Okorie, at the State Department of Criminal Investigations, Yaba, however, denied killing his friend for going to the police station.
He said, “Some minutes after I got home, Onyeka (Jackson) came to my house and started hitting my door. We had a disagreement in our place of work. I got a knife to threaten him to leave my house. I did not know the knife would hit him. I did not mean to kill him.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest. She added that the corpse had been deposited in a morgue in Badagry.
She said, “There was a fight between the friends and Jackson was stabbed to death. The suspect has been arrested and the exhibit has also been recovered. The corpse was deposited at the morgue of the Badagry General Hospital for an autopsy. Meanwhile, investigation is ongoing.”
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