LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A 45-year-old father of three, Gbenga Ogunfadeke, has been arrested for allegedly locking his two children in solitary confinement and starving them to death.
Ogunfadeke was arrested by operatives of the Ogun State Amotekun Corps in Ibiade, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the State.
The corps’ State Commander, David Akinremi, confirmed the suspect’s arrest in a statement to journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital on 19 April.
PUNCH reports that the suspect had accused his children of stealing, chained and locked them in solitary confinement without food and water for over three months.
The situation reportedly led to the death of two of the children.
A complainant, Busola Otusegun (Akinremi’s ex-wife) revealed that the suspect had been maltreating the children aged 16, 17 and 18 since he took custody of them following their failed marriage.
Akinremi said: “One of the three children came across his aunt in Ibiade where he currently lives with his father (suspect) and narrated their experience with their father which led to the death of his two elder siblings ,Yusuf Ogunfadeke, 18 years old and Dasola Ogunfadeke, 17 years old, between April and June 2022 in Ijebu-Ode where they were all living with the suspect until he relocated back to Ibiade.
“According to him (the child), their father chained and locked them in solitary confinement without food and water for over three months which led to the death of the two siblings but he miraculously survived the ordeal.”
The commandant disclosed that the suspect when interrogated, admitted the alleged confinement of the children for months, but denied not feeding them and being responsible for their death.
Ogunfadake was quoted as saying that his action was based on the children’s involvement in stealing, hence the need to ensure they are stopped.
He added that the suspect claimed that his two deceased children were taken to hospital for treatment at different times when they fell ill, but unfortunately died in the process.
“What is however curious about his defense is that the hospital where he claimed the two children died in Ijebu Ode could not be located.
“Where he allegedly buried them behind a rented apartment he lived in Ijebu-Ode before relocating to his present abode in Ibiade with the third child could also not be traced for possible exhumation.
“The fact that he refused to make the incidents known to any member of the family also gives course for concern; moreso when the suspect is a herbalist, thus further fuelling the suspicion of having killed the deceased for possible rituals.
“Consequently, the case is being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation to establish further facts that will facilitate his prosecution,” he revealed.
