Residents of Badagry’s Ilogbo-Eremi area express shock as police yet to confirm incident

Residents of Oke Egan in the Ilogbo-Eremi area of Badagry, Lagos State, were thrown into shock after the discovery of the body of a sexagenarian woman, identified as Victoria Adegoke, in a nearby bush.

Reports gathered from community sources revealed that the deceased was found unclothed and is suspected to have been raped and strangled before her body was dragged into the bush.

A photograph of the deceased also showed marks suggesting that her hands may have been tied by her assailants.

According to a community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the incident, Adegoke was believed to be in her 60s and a grandmother.

The source said the deceased had attended a programme at The Joy of Christ Ministry, popularly known as Ayo Jesu Church, and was allegedly ambushed by hoodlums while returning home in the early hours of the day.

“I knew the deceased; her daughter lives abroad. She went to church last Tuesday and remained there for a programme that ended four days ago.

“She stayed with a sibling who lives close to the church. It was while she was returning home around 6 a.m. that she was reportedly attacked.

“The suspects removed her clothes, strangled her, and also took her phone. Her ATM card and Bible were found at the scene,” the source said.

Another resident, identified as Adeola, described the incident as shocking and questioned why an elderly woman would be subjected to such brutality.

“She should be between 65 and 68 years old. Passersby found her body in the bush and reported the matter at the police post in Ilogbo-Eremi.

“The police are aware of the incident and should be able to track the assailants through the woman’s stolen phone,” Adeola said.

Another community member, who also requested anonymity for fear of attack, described the area as notorious for violent crimes, noting that this would be about the fourth such incident reported in the locality.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, had yet to respond to messages seeking confirmation of the incident as of the time of filing this report.