… father chained, locked children in solitary confinement without food, water for over three months
…family members deny knowing children died
…father refuses to show where the children were buried
A 45-year-old man identified as Ogunfadeke has been arrested for the torture and unlawful confinement of his two children in Ogun State.
The suspect was arrested by Operatives of Amotekun Corps in Ibiade Waterside Local Government Area of the State following a complaint of suspected murder reported by his ex-wife, Busola Otusegun.
Amotekun corps commander, CP David A. Akinremi, said: “According to the complainant, when her marriage to the suspect broke up some years back, the ex-husband insisted he wanted custody of their three children whose ages range from 18, 17, and 16 and they agreed.
“Although she relocated to Warri, Delta State and got married there, she was in constant touch with the suspect concerning the welfare of the three children and was always told all was well with them. She however did not have direct access to any of them (children).
“On the 30th of March, 2023, one of the children came across his aunt in Ibiade where he currently lives with his father (suspect) and narrated their experience with their father which led to the death of his two elder siblings – Yusuf Ogunfadeke, 18 and Dasola Ogunfadeke,17, between April and June, 2022 in Ijebu-Ode where they were all living with the suspect until he relocated back to Ibiade.”
Akinremi further stated: “The boy alleged that their father chained and locked them in solitary confinement, without food and water for over three months which led to the death of the two siblings, but he miraculously survived the ordeal.”
The suspect, when interrogated, admitted the alleged confinement of the children for months, denied not feeding them and was responsible for their death.
According to him, his action was based on the children’s involvement in stealing hence the need to ensure they were prevented from such criminal acts.
He further claimed that the two deceased were taken to hospital for treatment at different times after they fell ill but unfortunately died in the process.
Akinremi noted: “What is however curious about his defence is that the hospital where he claimed the two children died in Ijebu Ode could neither be located nor where he allegedly buried them behind a rented apartment he lived in Ijebu-Ode before relocating to his present abode in Ibiade with the third child for possible exhumation be traced.
“The fact that he refused to make the incidents known to any member of the family also gives course for concern Moreso when the suspect is a herbalist, thus further fueling the suspicion of having killed the deceased for possible rituals.
“Consequently, the case is being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation with a view to establishing further facts that will facilitate his prosecution.”
