Toddler Crushed by Teenage Motorist in Lagos

Ikeoluwa Abikejesu Olaniyi, 3, was in her grandfather’s compound in Ire Akari Estate, Isolo, Lagos, playing with her friends on September 3, 2013, when the tragic incident occured.

Chinyere Wagbaranta, 18, drove into the compound carelessly in company of her brother, Chisom, and a police corporal attached to Police Mobile Force 22, Felix Adebayo, in a Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vehicle where she hit the little girl and crushed her skull.

The grandfather of the victim, Adesola Elegbede, said Ikeoluwa was his first grandchild. He said, “Ikeoluwa lives with me and my wife. Her father works in a bank and her mother works with an accounting firm, which are both located on Victoria Island. Ikeoluwa attends a school in Ilasa, which is not far from our house. She stays with her parents during the weekend.

“On the day of the incident, I came in and saw her eating yam just outside the main door and told her to go inside. A few minutes later, I wanted to go to my friend who lives a few houses away from mine and Ikeoluwa attempted to follow me but she met some of her friends playing in the compound so she joined them.

“A few minutes later, I heard a loud scream that Ikeoluwa had been crushed by a vehicle in the compound. I ran to the scene and observed that the side of her head had been crushed. I saw the vehicle that hit her but the occupants had fled. I carried my granddaughter to Good Health Hospital, where she was declared dead.”

Elegbede ran to the Isolo Police Division to report the matter met the culprits there.

“I was told that Chinyere and her brother hired the Police Mobile Force member, who is attached to a bank in the area, to escort them to our compound to fight one of my neighbour’s children.

“I learnt a neighbour’s daughter had a misunderstanding with a boy, Chiboy, who was bent on making her his girlfriend, but she refused. I met them when they were quarrelling outside as I was coming back into the house. I was told the brother of my neighbour’s daughter fought Chiboy somewhere along the road.

“I learnt that Chiboy and his sister arranged with a policeman to arrest my neighbour’s son; and that the sister who was ready for a showdown with his brother’s “girlfriend” drove home from Ire Akari Road in high speed. That was where my late grand-daughter who was playing with her peers got crushed and died on the spot.”

“They drove recklessly from Ire Akari Road into my compound and after crushing my little girl, the armed MOPOL aided them in escaping from the scene.”, Elegbede said.

Chinyere’s parents, in company with the Divisional Police Officer, Isolo, Adamu Ibrahim, and a chief in the area came to apologise over the incident, urging him not to pursue the case four days after the incident,

“When they came to visit me four days later, I was shocked that the DPO escorted them to my place. Why should the DPO be pleading on their behalf, telling me it was the will of God? Anyway, I told them to go and beg Ikeoluwa’s parents because I am not her father.

“On September 9, the DPO called me again saying the Area D Commander at Mushin wanted to see all the parties involved but on getting there, the DPO told us to return to his own station.

“When I noticed that the case was not being handled properly, I asked the DPO to transfer the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, but he refused to do this.

“I am aware that Chinyere is 18 years old and is an adult. I have already started hearing that the police want to manipulate her age, get her a fake affidavit and give her a soft-landing. I will not accept this.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the accident when she contacted. She said the matter was reported as a fatal car accident and that Chinyere had been charged to court.