Ex-Police Officer Kills Three, Commits Suicide Over Family Feud
A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), 63-year-old Charles Atideka, has allegedly killed three people before taking his own life over a family land dispute, according to the Lagos State Police Command.
The incident, which occurred in Badagry, was confirmed by the command to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.
Reports indicate that the tragedy unfolded on Tuesday when Atideka allegedly shot and killed two family members—Mr. Richard Atideka and Mrs. Latevi Atideka, both from the Yovoyan community—and Mr. Muji Onilude, a resident of the neighboring Gberefu community. The attack took place between 2:00 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. at Atideka’s compound.
A survivor of the attack, Mr. David Atideka, recounted the harrowing events, which ended with Atideka taking his own life. Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that the ex-police officer ingested a poisonous substance after the killings, leading to his unconscious state. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.
“The suspect in the incident is dead. He killed three people and allegedly took poison after committing the act. His body and those of the victims have been deposited in the morgue,” Hundeyin said.
However, a different account has emerged from Henry Atideka, the suspect’s son, who disputes the suicide claim. According to Henry, his father collapsed and died while being transported to the Badagry Police Station for questioning. Henry stated that his father had been invited by the police as the prime suspect in the killings.
“I was informed around 12:30 p.m. that my father had been admitted to General Hospital, Badagry, after collapsing on his way to the station,” Henry said. “I sent my brother, John Atideka, to check on him. When he arrived, he found my father in the intensive care unit under police guard.”
Henry further explained that when John returned to the hospital later, his father was missing, and the three policemen were no longer there.
A nurse informed John that Charles Atideka had died. Henry then contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to inquire about the situation, but the DPO claimed ignorance.
“I arrived at the hospital around 4:00 p.m. but was initially denied access to my father’s body. After calling the DPO, I was allowed to see him, and I found his lifeless body. The stress of the accusations had caused a rise in his blood pressure, which led to his death,” Henry said.
Dr. Olatunde Bakare, the Medical Director of General Hospital Badagry, confirmed that Charles Atideka had been rushed to the hospital in the afternoon and died about three hours later. However, Bakare added that the exact cause of death had not been determined, and no tests had been conducted to confirm whether it was due to poisoning or complications from high blood pressure.
Henry Atideka has called for a thorough investigation into the incident, stating that his father was a respected member of the Badagry community and did not kill anyone. He urged the police to uncover the truth and ensure that the real culprit is found.
As of now, the case remains under investigation, with both the police and the family presenting conflicting versions of the events leading up to Charles Atideka’s death.
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