The Lagos State Police have arrested a Chief of Ijegun area of Lagos state identified as Ajiroba for allegedly beating up a pregnant bread seller, Bukola Olasunkanmi.
Punch Metro gathered that Olasunkanmi who is 7 months pregnant was allegedly beaten up by the chief and his thugs because she mediated in an argument involving some levy collectors and another bread seller.
Olasunkanmi who sustained several injuries due to the beatings was rushed to a private hospital before she taken to Igando General Hospital.
Narrating her experience to Punch Metro, she said her life has been in danger since the event because she reported the matter to the police. According to her she has been receiving threatening phone calls and strange people have been visiting her place
She said, “I work as a mobile bread vendor, and the assault happened on March 11, 2016, while I was supplying bread to a customer at the Ijegun bus stop. At a point in the transaction, I noticed that another bread vendor had thrown her wooden tray on the bonnet of my car.
“I realised that she was being harassed by some local levy collectors operating in the area. I intervened by pleading with the collectors to let her go as she strapped a baby to her back, I said, ‘Leave this woman alone.’
“It was at this point that one Chief Ajiroba, accompanied by four hoodlums, emerged from a corner with a cane and began to flog me. I was beaten like a criminal at the bus stop despite being pregnant.
“I ran to the Isheri Osun division and reported the matter. Policemen thereafter followed me to the chief and he was detained that day. Although the chief has apologised to me, my fear is that strange people have been visiting my residence since the ecounter.
“Most of them warned me that my life was no longer safe as I dared to report a chief to the police. I want the police to help me out and ensure that justice is served in this matter. I go almost every day to the Igando General Hospital for checkups.”
When the Chief was contacted, he claimed not to know that the lady was pregnant and has never net her before that day, He said he is pleading with the lady to drop the case.
Speaking the Public Relation Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos confirmed the arrest of the chief and said that investigation is ongoing and justice must b ensured.