Madam’s thugs beat housemaid to death over N2000, secretly bury her

Patience Ogbo

The suspect

Policemen attached to the Bariga Police State, Lagos State, have arrested Shade Moke for allegedly hiring three men to beat her 16-year-old house maid to death for allegedly stealing her N2000.

Moke was further alleged to have carried out the dastardly act along with three men identified as John, Issac and Akinseye.

Police said that Moke and her hired thugs secretly buried the girl, identified as Halimat Sodiq, when they realized she was death. Moke, who has been arrested and alleged of murder, denied killing or burying her secretly.

According to a source, Moke allegedly gave the three men instruction to beat Halimat after inviting them to her shop, after which she went out.

Halimat fainted while being beaten by the men. One of the men called Moke, who returned to the shop. Halimat was rushed to Adeboye Hospital, from there to Maryade Specialist Hospital at Ilaje.

Maryade Specialist Hospital then referred her to Gbagada General Hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

Bariga Police Station was alerted of the incident. Moke and the three men were arrested. Moke and the three men had denied knowing anything about her death.

A nonprofit organisation, Advocates For Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, however, expressed fear that Moke must have bribed Halimat’s mother, who is now saying she doesn’t wish to pursue the case further or seek legal action.

One of the advocates said: “The mother of the late Halimot was confirmed to have shown up at the police station. This was after Moke called and informed her of the girl’s death. Right there at the station, Moke pleaded with the woman, using money as inducement. Halimat mother is now saying she doesn’t want to institute a case against Moke and the three men.”

Expressing dismay over the behaviour of some parents, who collect bribe in order to pervert justice, Mr. Ebenezer Omejilile, Manager at Advocates For Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, said: "The mother should be charged as an accomplice for being so irresponsible. This case should be used as an example to irresponsible parents whose children are killed by cold blooded monsters.”

 The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana, while confirming the incident, explained that at least four suspects had been arrested over the murder of Halimat.

According to him, on May 9, at about 11:30am, Bariga Police Station received information that Moke, 41, conspired with three others on February 29, and killed Halimat over an allegation of stealing.

Elkana said: “The victim was a house help to Moke. She was alleged of stealing N2000 from her madam which she repeatedly denied. The madam invited the remaining three suspects who tortured the girl to death. They buried her secretly at Atan cemetery Lagos, so as to conceal the murder. The four suspects were arrested but they denied the allegations. They, however, admitted slapping the girl for denying that she stole the money. They claimed that the girl went into convulsion after drinking water. They said that they took her to three different hospitals before she eventually died. They also admitted that the girl was buried by her parents, not them. The parents have also been contacted for their statements. The Lagos State Commissioner  of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for discreet investigation and diligent prosecution.”