When on Wednesday 29-year-old Saheed Badmus went to a viewing centre on Lamina Street, Egbe, Lagos State, to watch the UEFA Champions League semi-final match between Chelsea Football Club and Atletico Madrid, little did he know that was the last match he would ever watch.
It was learnt that the graduate of Ekiti State Polytechnic was stabbed to death by a barber identified only as Yemi, during an argument that broke out at the viewing centre.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene on Thursday, observed a large crowd on the street talking about the incident.
Saheed’s friends took our correspondent to a portion of the street where spinkles of Saheed’s blood could be seen.
They told newsmen that passions were high at the viewing centre as most of the Chelsea fans were desperate to see their team qualify.
It was learnt that during the match, Saheed stood up and Yemi shouted at him and told him to sit down as he was blocking him from viewing the match on the screen.
An elderly man was said to have cautioned Yemi against shouting, but Yemi insulted the elderly man.
A friend to the deceased, Muyideen Waheed, told our correspondent that an argument then ensued between the barber and Saheed.
He said, “Yemi was shouting and one elderly man told him to keep quiet, but he shouted the man down. Saheed then cautioned against shouting at an elderly man. Yemi attacked him.
“The owner of the centre pushed both Yemi and Saheed out of the place and locked them out.”
It was learnt that once they got outside, Yemi picked up a bottle from a nearby pub and stabbed Saheed.
It was learnt that as Saheed ran for his life, Yemi chased him and then stabbed him in the face.
Waheed revealed that when some of the viewers came out, they saw the deceased’s lying in a pool of blood.
He said they rushed him to two hospitals, but he was rejected.
He said, “There was power failure and everywhere was dark. Most of us were inside the viewing centre, so we did not hear Saheed scream. When we came out, we saw him lying in a pool of blood. We rushed him to Obeeh Hospital, but he was rejected. We then took him to Bisalam Hospital, but he was referred to Igando General Hospital.
“On getting to Igando, he was pronounced dead.”
Residents described Yemi as a violent man who had on several occasions attacked youths in the area.
While lifting up his shirt, Waheed said, “You see this scar on my chest. It was a stab wound inflicted on me by Yemi.”
Our correspondent, who visited Saheed’s mother’s house, learnt that he was her youngest son.
The mother, Isiwatu, while weeping profusely, said she was pained that she did not live to reap the fruit of her labour.
“My son was a gentle man. We lived together and he was responsible. I still saw him on Wednesday before he went to watch the match. I struggled to send him to school and now, all is wasted. He had no wife and child.
“Yemi has stolen my joy and I want him arrested and sentenced to death for his crime. This was not a case of two people fighting. It was an outright murder.”
It was learnt that after killing the deceased, Yemi fled to his father’s home, but his father alerted the police and he was arrested by policemen from the Ikotun Police Division.
When our correspondent visited the police station, Yemi was seen writing his statement.
Yemi’s father, who refused to identify himself, described his son as a troublemaker and wondered where he got the behaviour from.
He said, “I hardly see my son. Sometimes, I don’t see him for as long as three months. He just came to my house last night (Wednesday), crying. He told me that he had stabbed someone at a viewing centre.
“I reported him to the police. I don’t know why he went to watch the match in the first place. What kind of trouble is all this?
“When I saw the picture of the boy he stabbed, I shed tears because it is every parent’s worst nightmare.”
One killed while celebrating goal
Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that another person, identified as Destiny Ameh, lost his life at another viewing centre in the Badagry area of the state.
A police source told our correspondent that the victim was struck in the head with a sharp object while celebrating a goal.
The source said, “Around 8.30pm, one Destiny Ameh was allegedly hit with an object by an unidentified person while watching a match between Chelsea FC and Atletico Madrid at a viewing centre along Sofoluwe Street, Magbon, Badagry Expressway, Magbon, Badagry.
“He was rushed to Victoria Private Hospital where he was confirmed dead. The owner of the viewing centre has been arrested.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, was learnt that after killing the deceased, Yemi fled to his father’s home, but his father alerted the police and he was arrested by policemen from the Ikotun Police Division.
When our correspondent visited the police station, Yemi was seen writing his statement.
Yemi’s father, who refused to identify himself, described his son as a troublemaker and wondered where he got the behaviour from.
Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, could not be reached for comment.
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That'is the power of the western countrirs. We have our own league here, it is very rare u see young men watch these mastches. May their souls rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteUseless fantacy witout gain. Football's d tool dat satan wll destroy d world wt,mark my word!
ReplyDeleteLet him also be killed,of cus he deserve to be convicted to death.its high time all this madness of killing ur fellow brothers and sister in a the name been a fance or no fance.that's barbaric for goodness sake,how could some one take the life of his fellow humain being all because football?that's madness of the highest order and it has be stopped now.how I wish I could be the presiding officer in court.
ReplyDeleteHe should face death sentence, despite he cannot be compare with the death graduate. What a waste of material by an ordinary barber. May his soul rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteSo sad . that poor boy
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate,May Saheed soul rest in perfect peace Amen,the murderer “YEMI” should be hang to dead,he is such an Idiote who think he will always get away with such crime,moreso believe he can wast life and get away with it,it's time is up,since his dad have said it all that his son is a troublemaker,as such his son should and most face dead penalty,and this will serve as a lesson to other violent football fanatics,the youths of nowadays should learn to respect their elders and this is the simple reason why Saheed lost his life in defence of an elderly man,the owner of the centre should be arrested and prosicuted as well becos he contributed to the demise of Saheed instead of proctecting Saheed,but the owner of the centre and Yemi the murderer should not speared.“ICE ED'JOHNSON U.K”
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed unfortunate that Saheed lost his life protecting an elderly from being insulted by a holigan “yemi”,the murderer “YEMI” should be HANG to dead and the owner of the premises where the incident took place should be arrested and be sent to jail for life becos he contributed to the dead of Saheed due to he failed in his duty as the landlord,may Saheed perfect soul rest in peace,if the father of Yemi sees his son as as a trouble maker,I surpose he should face a dead panerlty and that will serve as a lesson to those fools who have no regards for life.ICE E'JOHNSON
ReplyDelete