A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), 63-year-old Charles Atideka, has reportedly taken his own life after allegedly killing three individuals over a land dispute.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the tragic event to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Badagry.
According to reports, the former officer allegedly shot and killed two members of a family and another individual on Tuesday following a dispute over land ownership. The victims were identified as Mr. Richard Atideka and Mrs. Latevi Atideka, both from the Yovoyan community, along with Mr. Muji Onilude from the neighboring Gberefu community. The attack was reportedly carried out by the ex-police officer and an unidentified accomplice.
A survivor of the incident, Mr. David Atideka, shared his terrifying experience, stating that the attack took place between 2:00 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. at the Atideka family compound.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that after the killings, the retired officer allegedly ingested a toxic substance, lost consciousness, and was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“The suspect is deceased. He killed three individuals and allegedly consumed poison afterward. He was rushed to the hospital, but doctors confirmed his death. His body, along with those of the victims, has been taken to the morgue,” Hundeyin said.
However, Henry Atideka, the son of the deceased, provided a conflicting account of events. He denied the suicide claim, asserting that his father collapsed and passed away while on his way to the Badagry Police Station for questioning.
Henry explained that the police had invited his father for interrogation regarding the killings in their community. He maintained that medical records from General Hospital Badagry did not support the claim that his father had ingested poison.
“After the incident, the police visited our community and summoned my father to the station in Badagry as the main suspect. At around 8:30 a.m., he got ready and informed me that he was heading to the station. However, by 12:30 p.m., I received a call saying he had collapsed and was rushed to General Hospital Badagry. I then asked my brother, John Atideka, to check on him,” Henry recounted.
According to him, when John arrived at the hospital, he found three policemen guarding their father, who was under police watch as a suspect.
“John saw that our father had been admitted to the intensive care unit. He even paid for his treatment and some medications before leaving to change his clothes. But when he returned around 3:30 p.m., our father and the three policemen were no longer there,” Henry said.
John was later informed by a nurse that their father had passed away.
“That was when my brother called me. I then reached out to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to ask about my father, but the DPO claimed he had no knowledge of his whereabouts. I arrived at the hospital around 4:00 p.m., but I wasn’t allowed to see my father’s body immediately. It was only after calling the DPO that I was granted access. I found him lifeless—he was gone. The immense stress from the allegations raised his blood pressure, which ultimately led to his death. My father was a well-respected man in the Badagry community. He did not kill anyone. The police should conduct a thorough investigation to identify the actual perpetrator so that his soul can rest in peace,” Henry insisted.
Meanwhile, Dr. Olatunde Bakare, the Medical Director of General Hospital Badagry, confirmed that the deceased was admitted in the afternoon and died approximately three hours later.
“We have not conducted any medical tests to determine the precise cause of death. At this point, we cannot confirm whether he ingested poison or if his death resulted from a rise in blood pressure,” Bakare stated.