The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 21-year-old man, Ogadima Nkwaha, for allegedly slitting the throat of his friend, John Effiong, in the Olodi Apapa area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect killed the victim after he refused to release his (Effiong) phone to him.
It was gathered that Nkwaha had won more than N60,000 from the victim while they gambled.
Effiong, who wanted to recoup his losses, reportedly wagered his handset.
He, however, lost again to Nkwaha.
Our correspondent was told that trouble started when the deceased refused to part with the phone, which started an argument between the two men.
In the ensuing brawl, the suspect allegedly slit Effiong’s throat with a broken bottle.
He was rushed to a private hospital where he eventually died.
When our correspondent visited the scene of the incident on Kumuyi Street on Tuesday, an elderly man in the house threatened to injure our correspondent and subsequently chased him out of the house.
PUNCH Metro gathered from some neighbours that it was the second time that such an incident would happen in the house.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the recent case happened around 5pm on Sunday.
He said, “The two guys were childhood friends and they rarely fight. But their undoing was their love for gambling.
“They had gambled that day with money and Effiong lost more than N60,000 to Nkwaha. He thought he could still have a chance, so he decided to bet with his handset. However, his friend won again.
“He refused to release the phone to him and that was how they started arguing. Nkwaha said he must release the phone since he lost the bet, but Effiong refused.
“Nkwaha went inside the room and broke a bottle. Effiong pushed him and he stabbed him in the throat with the broken bottle.”
Another resident, Jide Alawiye, said the men continued with their fight without realising the extent of Effiong’s injury.
He explained that the community became alarmed when the victim slumped.
“He was taken to a private hospital where he died around 11pm. The case was reported at the Tolu Police Division and the suspect was arrested,” Alawiye added.
Another resident, Babatunde Obasola, said there had been tension in the area over the fear that some relatives of the deceased would attack youths on Kumuyi Street.
“That house has been giving a lot of headache to people on this street and the reason is that it is owned by an elderly man who does not have any control over his tenants. Some hoodlums live in that house.
“We have reported their activities to the police at Ajeromi and Tolu divisions, and even Area B command. This is the second time that this kind of thing would be happening,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that Effiong’s corpse had been deposited in a morgue for autopsy.
She said, “We have a case involving one Ogadima Nkwaha, who allegedly stabbed one Effiong on the neck with a broken bottle during a fight between them.
“The victim’s corpse has been deposited in a morgue for autopsy, while the suspect is in custody.”
PUNCH
