Tragedy struck in the Badagry area of Lagos State as a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Charles Atideka reportedly took his own life after allegedly killing three individuals over a land dispute.

The Lagos State Police Command confirmed on Thursday, April 3, that the 63-year-old ex-police officer was responsible for the deaths of two family members and another individual. The victims—Richard Atideka, Latevi Atideka, and Muji Onilude—were shot dead between 2:00 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the Atideka compound.

A survivor of the attack, David Atideka, described the harrowing experience, stating that the assailant did not act alone. He alleged that an unidentified accomplice aided the former police officer in carrying out the killings.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that Charles Atideka ingested a poisonous substance after the attack, fell unconscious, and was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The police deposited his body and those of the three victims in the morgue.

However, conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the circumstances of Atideka’s death. His son, Henry Atideka, dismissed claims of suicide, asserting that his father collapsed and died while heading to the Badagry Police Station for interrogation.

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Henry explained that his father had called him at 8:30 a.m. to inform him about the police invitation. Hours later, he received a call stating that his father had been admitted to the General Hospital Badagry after collapsing.

John Atideka, another son of the deceased, reportedly found three policemen guarding their father at the hospital’s intensive care unit. He paid for his father’s admission and some drugs before leaving briefly. Upon his return at 3:30 p.m., he discovered that his father and the officers had vanished from the ward.

Hospital staff later informed him that his father had died. When Henry sought clarification from the Divisional Police Officer,DPO, in charge, he claimed to have no knowledge of the situation.

Dr. Olatunde Bakare, the Medical Director of General Hospital Badagry, confirmed that Charles Atideka was admitted to the hospital in the afternoon and died about three hours later. He stated that no tests had been conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

The development has left the Atideka family and the affected communities in shock, with lingering questions about the true cause of the ex-police officer’s demise.

Reported by The Conclave.