Relatives of a 30-year-old woman, Rafiat Okewole, are currently grieving over the sudden death of the lady allegedly in the hands of her husband, Wole.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Okewole, though married to the businessman, was living separately on Odelusi Street, in the Ijoko area of Ota, Ogun State.
She was said to have lost her life during a disagreement that ensued when she visited her husband in the Gas Line area of Ijoko on Sunday to collect money for her children’s upkeep.
The deceased was said to have been having a running battle with her husband over his alleged failure to cater for her children.
The issue, however, reached its climax when Wole allegedly smashed Okewole’s head against the wall during her Sunday visit.
Our correspondent learnt that efforts made by neighbours to save Okewole’s life after the incident failed as she was confirmed dead in the hospital where she was rushed to for medical attention.
It was further learnt that her 41-year-old husband was arrested after the case was reported at a police station by one of the deceased’s siblings.
One of the deceased’s brothers, Akinola Shittu, in an interview with PUNCH Metro, said he was devastated by the news of his sister’s death.
He said, “My elder brother called me on Sunday evening to inform me that Rafiat died. I asked what happened and he told me that it was reported to him that Wole smashed her head against the wall of his house when she went to ask for money for the upkeep of their kids.
“This happened at Wole’s Gas Line, Ijoko residence on Sunday around 3pm.
“Immediately, I rushed to the house and I saw that neighbours had already gathered and my sister was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead. I am devastated.
“I later learnt that one of my brothers who lives nearby reported the case at Sango Police Station which led to Wole’s arrest.”
The deceased’s sister, Basirat Liasu, told our correspondent that the incident happened in the presence of Okewole’s daughter who accompanied her to Wole’s house.
Liasu said, “I learnt on Sunday from one of our elder sisters that Rafiat died due to injuries inflicted on her by her husband, Wole, who hit her head against the wall in his house.
“Rafiat was not living with Wole as of the time of the incident because she was Wole’s second wife. Though, his first wife also packed out earlier in the year.
“She went there to ask for money for the children’s upkeep. One of her children who accompanied her to the house told neighbours that her father hit her mother’s head on the wall.”
The deceased’s elder brother, Yusuf, told PUNCH Metro that he was the one who reported the matter at the Sango Divisional Police Headquarters.
He said, “My wife was the one that called me on the telephone and informed me that she heard that my sister died after her husband hit her head against the wall of his house.
“I rushed to the hospital at Ijoko but she was already dead and I learnt that Wole was still boasting that nothing would happen to him after killing my sister.”
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident.
She said Wole was already in police custody.
The PPRO said, “The Sango Ota Police Division arrested a murder suspect on August 6, 2023, around 4pm. It was one Segun Osho who reported that his sister, Rafiat Okewole, who lived at Odelusi Street, Ijoko, Ota had an argument with her husband, Oluwole Okewole, and he hit her head on the wall and she became unconscious.
“She was rushed to a hospital in Ota where she was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
“Detectives visited the scene, arrested the suspect for interrogation and took photographs while the corpse was evacuated to the mortuary for autopsy.”
