Ondo Police Commissioner Calls Claims Linking First Lady’s Convoy To 10-Year-Old Child’s Death A ‘Diabolical Lie’
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Wilfred Olatokunbo Afolabi, has firmly dismissed reports alleging that a vehicle in the convoy of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was involved in the tragic death of a 10-year-old girl in Akure, Ondo state.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Afolabi described the claim as a “diabolical lie,” stating that eyewitness accounts confirm the vehicle responsible was not part of the official convoy.
According to Afolabi, the incident occurred shortly after the First Lady had arrived in Akure. A white Lexus Jeep reportedly struck the child at Oba Ile after the road had been reopened.
“Yesterday, the first lady was around and she was received at Akure airport. Fortunately, I was among the officers that were at the airport to receive her and I was also in the convoy that took her from the airport to the Dome where she had her first event,” the Commissioner explained. After her convoy had passed, after the road closed, we heard of an unfortunate incident that a white Lexus Jeep hit a 10-year-old girl at Oba Ile.
“Unfortunately, being a fast moving vehicle, they could not catch up with him and the relatives of the deceased heard that. I commiserated with them and told them that after the whole event, I’ll be here to pay them condolences. That’s exactly what happened.”
The police boss condemned viral publications suggesting government involvement, calling them false and damaging. “It was a big surprise to me when in the evening, somebody sent some publications to me revealing that one of the vehicles in the first lady’s convoy went out of its way to hit that innocent girl. That’s a blatant lie. I would even refer to it as a diabolical lie. Nothing like that happened,” he stressed.
Speaking on the efforts to apprehend the culprit, Afolabi said the police have issued alerts across their checkpoints and are actively searching for any white Lexus vehicle with visible damage or bloodstains.
“On receipt of this information and when it was communicated to me, we quickly went on the radio, relayed to all our meeting points and other places where we have roadblocks, that if we see any white Lexus Jeep with bloodstains or maybe with dents in front, that the vehicle should be stopped and apprehended.
“But this I can confirm to you that up to this very moment, we have not yet gotten any result. But the assurance I can give you is that already, the sketching information we have, we are working on it and I believe with God on our side, we’ll get the culprits arrested.”
The First Lady was in Ondo to distribute empowerment kits and equipment. The police have urged the public to disregard false reports and await credible updates from authorities.
Melissa Enoch
Follow us on:
