Grace Joseph, the widow of the commercial bus driver, Joseph Okpe, who was allegedly beaten to death by the Nigerian Air Force officers along the Oshodi–Apapa Expressway in Lagos, has accused the military of abandoning her family, saying she has not heard from its representatives since they paid a condolence visit and promised support.
PUNCH Metro reports that the driver died a few hours after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of officers following a minor traffic incident involving their vehicle.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed that all officers involved had been detained and that the family had been visited.
“The Nigerian Air Force is aware of the reported incident and is deeply saddened by the loss of life,” Ejodame said.
“Upon receiving information on the matter, the personnel suspected to be involved were immediately taken into custody, and the case is currently under investigation by the appropriate civil and military authorities.
“The NAF has also extended its condolences to the family of the deceased and visited them to express sympathy and support during this difficult time,” the statement added.
However, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, the grieving mother of three said the Air Force had failed to fulfil the assurances given to her family during the condolence visit.
“He was the breadwinner. The Air Force officers came to visit us, and the way they spoke gave me hope. I was encouraged by what they told us.
“But after they left, everything changed. I have not heard from them again. My husband was the one feeding and taking care of the family, and now he is gone.
“When they came that day, they spoke in a way that made me happy. But after they left, they changed. I don’t know why. I have not seen them again, and I do not know the reason,” she said.
Speaking in a shaky voice, the mother of three said her children had continued to ask about their father.
“The children have been asking about their father, especially the youngest one. Since the day my husband died, he has been crying because he misses his father.
“My youngest child is five years old. My daughter is 10 years old, and my first child is 14 years old.”
She added that during the condolence visit, Air Force representatives handed her N200,000 to assist with feeding the children.
“They gave me N200,000 when they came. They said it was for me to use and feed the children. Since then, I have never received another call from them.
“I feel very sad about it. I really do.”
The bereaved widow appealed to the government to intervene and support the welfare and education of her children.
“What I want the government to do for me is to help me train my children and support their education. Their father was the one responsible for them and took care of all their needs.
“I want the government to take responsibility and help ensure that the children can continue their education and have a future.”
Recalling the events that led to her husband’s death, the widow said the tragedy came as a devastating shock to the family.
She said, “When the time came, I had to explain because it was shocking to me. I was so surprised because I never expected this kind of thing.
“On the day it happened, both of us left the house at the same time. I was going to visit one of my sisters, while my husband had gone to work.
“That night, I received a call after 8 p.m. The woman who called asked if I was Joseph’s wife. I said yes, and she told me that my husband had been involved in an accident. I was shocked.
“I immediately called my husband’s elder brother and informed him that someone had called to say my husband had been involved in an accident.
“My husband’s brother asked where I was, and I told him I was at home. I then went to my sister’s place.
“The caller told me to come with my family, so I went to my husband’s sister and brother in Oshodi. When I got there, I explained everything to them, and we started looking for a vehicle to take us to the hospital.
“At that time, it was already late, and we could not find transportation. People were unwilling to come out because of the late hour and fear of being stopped by the police.
“The caller told me my husband was at a hospital in Mushin. Later, the doctor’s phone number was sent to me, and I forwarded it to my brother.
“My husband’s brother and I began communicating with the doctor. We pleaded with him to take care of my husband because we could not get there immediately due to the late hour.
“About three to five minutes after we spoke with the doctor, he called back and told me that my husband had died.
“The following morning, I went to the hospital with some people who assisted my family and me. When I got there, I saw my husband lying on the bed.”
