The police have arrested a national of Burkina Faso identified as Laday Wendipanga for allegedly slitting the throat of another woman, Adepeju Disu. It’s understood the incident took place on the premises of Holy Cross Cathedral on Lagos Island while the victim was asleep. It didn’t just end at that as Wendipanga inflicted several cuts on Disu’s body then dragged her corpse to a corner on the premises.
A member of the church discovered the body and raised an alarm. It’s gathered that a vigil was ongoing in the church on Friday, November 4, when the incident happened. The from the Lion Building Police Division then arrested the suspect and removed the remains.
According to Punch Metro, a mechanic who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victims were mentally ill, adding that Disu usually passed the night in the church. He said:
“Both of them are mentally ill. They were being taken care of by the church. A vigil was going on that day when the incident happened. I learnt that she (Wendipanga) went to where the woman was sleeping on the church premises and slit her throat with a knife.”
Also, a resident of the area, who identified himself simply as Daniel, said Disu moved to the church after a building she inhabited on Lagos Island was demolished. Another resident who didn’t want the name disclosed, that Disu’s remains were dumped in a dustbin on the premises. She said:
“I learnt she had a disagreement with the suspect earlier, but I don’t know what it was all about.”
However, a security guard claims the victim was not murdered on the church premises, saying it was a rumour. He said:
“I was on duty; nothing like that happened. Apart from you, somebody also came here to inquire about it. I have been on duty from the beginning of this month. I am a security man. If anything happens, I will tell you.”
SP Dolapo Badmos, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident, adding that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba. She said:
“The information we have is that the victim, Adepeju Disu, and the suspect, Laday Wendipanga from Burkina Faso, lived around the church. They seem to be mentally ill. Investigation will reveal more on that, especially on the side of the suspect. We need to do medical evaluation. The body was seen on thes church premises. The case has been transferred to SCIID, Yaba, for discreet investigation.”
