The family of
60-year-old Olawunmi Omoyajowo are still reeling from the tragedy that befell
them last Saturday when she was crushed alongside her pregnant daughter and
granddaughter on their way back from a church vigil at Ikeja, Lagos.
The three of
them were reportedly hit by a car driven by a group of drunk youths said to be
coming from a club in the wee hours of Saturday. Omoyajowo’s 26-year-old
pregnant daughter survived with a broken leg and other injuries.
Dead: Granddaughter and grandma, Omoyajowo
Scene of the accident
The older
woman and the granddaughter, Ayomide, who was mounted on her back during the
journey back home from the Celestial Church of Christ, Unity Road, Ikeja, were
pronounced dead at the hospital.
The little
girl’s death came just two days to her second year birthday, the family told
Saturday PUNCH. Her parents were said to have put preparations in place to
celebrate the day.
“The little
girl was inseparable from our mother while they were alive. Wherever her
grandma went, she was there with her,” a younger sister of the survivor, Funmi
told our correspondent.
The owner of
the vehicle involved in the accident is in custody while the other young men
who were in the car fled.
The
authorities of the CCC where the victims had attended the overnight programme
indicated they did not want to comment when they were contacted.
Our
correspondent visited Adefemi Hospital, Ikeja, where the survivor was receiving
treatment and learnt that she had not been told that her mother and first child
did not survive the accident.
“An emergency
Caesarean Section as been carried out on her to deliver her of her baby. We are
happy that at least that went well,” Funmi, told our correspondent. She pleaded
for the survivor’s name to be kept off the report.
Mother and
child were doing fine, hospital officials said. The woman was under sedation
during the visit.
Funmi, who
tried to contain her sorrow at the hospital, said it was necessary to put on a
cheerful mood for the benefit of her sister.
University of
Lagos Mass Communication lecturer, Dr. Soji Alabi, who is Omoyajowo’s nephew,
said the tragedy had shattered the family.
He however
said, despite the tragedy, the family is still thankful for not losing three
generations at the same time.
Alabi said,
“The tragedy would have been more terrible than this if we lost her (pregnant
survivor) as well. We are particularly thankful that the CS done on her was
successful.
“How can a
woman go to church to worship God with her daughter and her grandchild on her
back, die in the hands of some bunch of careless drunk men coming from a club?
“It is a rude
shock to our family and we still cannot comprehend how
such a thing could happen. Two days before the incident, grandma was in my
house playing with my children.
“She was the
kind of peaceful woman who wanted unity in the family. During my birthday in
December, she was moving around trying to explain to every family member in
attendance why we needed to gather every year as a family.
“Honestly,
I’m still finding it difficult to digest that she is actually gone.”
Alabi said he
had met with the police at the Area F command in Ikeja over the case and had
spoken with the relations of the suspect in custody, who gave the assurance
they would assist the police in producing the fleeing suspects.
“I am sure
the police will do their job well in this case because they have assured us of
that. We are not concerned about any other thing than getting justice. The men
must be apprehended and diligently prosecuted,” Alabi said.
The Police
Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, has also the police would track
down the other youths involved in the incident.
“The owner of
the vehicle is with us and he is helping in our investigation to ensure that we
track down the others who fled. We will surely get them,” he said.
Culled: Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment