Shocker: fashion designer dies after receiving death threat

22-year-old fashion designer slumped and died
on Sunday on Orobiyi Street, in Alagbado area of
Lagos State.
According to Punch Metro, Community youths
were said to have attacked one Taofeek Sodiq, who
had a disagreement with the victim earlier that
day.

The youths were about lynching the suspect when
policemen from the Alagbado division rescued
him.
Punch Metro gathered that the suspect had sent
his son on an errand with N500. The 10-year-old
was said to have been defrauded by a man who
sat in the front of Shotunde’s locked shop.

The boy’s father reportedly accused Shotunde of
colluding with the fraudster, insisting on getting
back the N500. Sodiq, in the heat of argument,
allegedly told the deceased, “You will not live to
open your shop tomorrow, if my money is not
returned.”

A resident, Owolabi Daod, explained that within
three hours, the victim slumped and died.
He said, “Around 10am on Sunday, a man sat in
the front of Lukmon’s shop. Another man, who
lives in the community, sent his 10-year-old son
on an errand with N500.

“But the man in the front of Lukmon’s shop called
the boy and asked him to bring the N500 that he
would double it for him. The boy foolishly gave
him the money and the man absconded.

“A resident, who saw the boy sitting in front of the
shop, asked him what he was waiting for. It was at
that point the boy knew he had been scammed.”
Daod said the boy’s father, upon learning the
news, confronted Shotunde and accused him of
colluding with the fraudster.

The 22-year-old, who denied the allegation,
reportedly asked for a description of the fraudster.
He was said to have called one of his friends who
fitted the boy’s description; but the boy said he
was not the one.

The boy’s father reportedly resorted to threats,
insisting that he must recover the money.
“The man came out with a friend and said if he
didn’t get his money back, Lukmon will not live to
open his shop the next day. We thought it was all
over.

“Lukmon was walking back to his shop when he
suddenly collapsed. We rushed him to a private
hospital where he was confirmed dead,” Daod
added.
Punch Metro gathered that residents trooped to the
suspect’s house and dragged him out. They were
said to have beaten him and were about lynching
him when the matter was reported at the police
station.

“The police prevented jungle justice on Sunday. A
police team had to stay in the community for more
than six hours,” a source said. It was learnt that
the victim’s father fought off efforts by the police
to recover his corpse.
One of Shotunde’s friends, Ayeni Tosin, said he
was buried at his father’s residence in Ijoko,
Sango, around 11pm on Sunday, Tosin who
described his friend as easy-going and gentle, said
he was not sick prior to the incident.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos,
said it was a case of sudden and unnatural death.
She said, “The victim’s father reported that the
suspect threatened his son that he would not live
to open his shop the next day. After three hours,
the deceased slumped and died.

“A joint team of patrol vehicles moved to the scene
to remove the body to suppress further tension,
but the victim’s father resisted the action of the
police on the ground that he wanted to bury his
son according to Islamic rites. Investigation is
ongoing.”
Punch