killed by a police bullet.
At that time, Deborah was pregnant with her first child but she has
since given birth to a baby girl, Bamidele, who was named after her
late father. On December 22, 2013, Bamidele celebrated her first
birthday and Deborah is worried that the family is still awaiting
justice 17 months after her husband's death.
Oroja, a commercial tricycle operator in Meiran area of Lagos, was
allegedly shot dead by a police corporal, Abbey Adekunle, on September
6, 2012, after a disagreement. Oroja was also the chairman of the
Three-Wheelers Association, Meiran, Lagos unit.
"We are not sure if the man that killed my husband is still in police
custody because the police are not telling us anything. Even till now,
there hasn't been any talk of compensation for the family by the
police," she said.
"My baby is growing bigger and so her financial needs are also rising.
Things have not been easy since my husband's death. To lose someone
like that is very tough; he was like my father and mother and had
sworn to protect me."
Deborah is a 19-year-old hair dresser, who doesn't make enough money
to take care of herself and Bamidele. So Deborah and her daughter have
had to put up with Oroja's elder sister, Mrs. Oluwakemi Owolabi, since
she put to bed.
"It still pains me that my husband (Oroja) didn't ever get to see his
daughter. I was eight months pregnant when he was shot dead by the
policeman. He used to say he wished I had given birth. He was so eager
to become a father," she said.
"But he wasn't allowed to see his child and care for her. The police
don't care about us or how his baby will live. I only wish my husband
was here to care for Bamidele."
Also watching Bamidele grow up, Deborah already dreads breaking the
news of the nature of Oroja's death to her when she comes of age.
She said, "Now, she still sees my husband's (Oroja's) brothers as her
daddies. I'm not looking forward to when I will have to tell her how
her father died. But I know that I will have to do it someday when
she's old enough to understand."
Speaking to Saturday Metro, Owolabi called on the police to make sure
that justice is done on the issue.
She said the police told the family early last year that Adekunle was
in their custody, but that the family had been left in the dark since
then.
"It's been tough taking care of my sister-in-law (Deborah) and niece
(Bamidele) from my meagre salary. We want Oroja's family to be
compensated so that his wife can take care of her daughter. We don't
even know if Adekunle is still with the police or not because no one
is telling us anything," she said.
Oroja was reportedly shot by Adekunle at an illegal checkpoint
mounted by the police officer.
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