Apprentice commits suicide after being accused of theft
By Christopher Oji
An apprentice with a big time trader has committed suicide few hours that his master accused him of stealing the sum of N100,000 from his shop, at the Elemoro area of Lagos.
The boy, 17, got angry, bought a bottle of poisonous substance suspected to be sniper, drank it and died. His body has been recovered and deposited in a public mortuary by the police.
A police source told Daily Sun that yesterday, a lady, Cynthia reported at the Elemoro Police Division that her younger brother, Chibueze, 17, came home from work the previous day, at about 8pm, took some money and left without talking to her.
The senior police officer added that the lady said a few minutes later after his brother left the house, his master called and reported that her younger brother stole the sum of N100,000 from his shop. “The lady said a few hours after her brother left the house, a neighbour called her and reported that she saw her brother lying dead at Abijo Bus Stop. The lady said she rushed down to the scene, where she met his lifeless body and a plastic bottle of sniper bedside him. The lady said she presumed that his brother drank the sniper as he was forming through the mouth and nostril.
“On the strength of the report, detectives from the division moved to the scene and met the lifeless body of the boy with foam gushing out of his mouth and nostril.
“The can of the sniper has been recovered as an exhibit and his body was deposited at the Epe General Hospital mortuary for autopsy and preservation.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundyin, who confirmed the death, said the police have commenced investigation into the matter.