By Nkereuwem Cosmas, Lagos
As public condemnation rages over the brutal killing of an upcoming comedian Chinedu Paul aka ‘Think Twice’, suspected to be a Badoo member at the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, his fiancée, Esther Demenongu has alleged that he was a victim of a frame-up.
Speaking at a joint press briefing organized with UNIC foundation, a Non Governmental Organization responsible for Chinedu’s education, Demenongu narrated how her fiancée was killed.
Insisting that he was not a member of the cult group, Demenongu who spoke together with the sister of the deceased, Elizabeth Chinedu, noted that Chinedu was killed at 10.35pm and not 2a.m as widely published.
Amidst tears, she said; “Chinedu’s car broke down at Festac and in an attempt to tow the vehicle he went with his friend, Sola and a mechanic called Sunday, to get another vehicle, a CRV jeep at his residence at Odogunyan in Ikorodu.
“On their way out of Ikorodu, two bus stops from the house, some persons suspected to be vigilante who saw chains and engine oil in the vehicle boot, the chains that was to be used to tow the broken-down vehicle, accosted them.
“They were mistaken for Badoo members, we suspect they were killed with machete and burnt including the vehicle. When we went there we couldn’t see anything to pick, even the bones” Elizabeth, Chinedu’s sister corroborated the story.
Meanwhile, the founder of UNIC foundation, Christopher Imumolen has implored the federal government and security operatives to put an end to the law of the jungle by engaging the community and vigilantes to collaborate with security agencies to forestall similar occurrences in the future.
Imumolen, stated that the deceased was a victim of mob action and charged the federal government, ]particularly the Lagos State government to nip mob action in the bud as Chinedu Paul could have been anybody. He supported the story as told by the deceased family.
“Chinedu was an energetic and prospective man who was killed in his prime. He’s on scholarship by our foundation and could not have been a member of the Badoo group. It could have been anybody. We want the government and the Police force to put an end to this jungle justice. The society must be sensitized that jungle justice is evil and vigilantes and security operatives engage for community policing should be trained to prevent innocent killings. The people of Ikorodu and members of the public should exercise caution in handling issues like this,” Dr Imumolen said.
