Heartbreaking: Woman who lost 3 children in Lagos vehicle suffocation cries out for justice, says it was a case of ritual.

Hafusat Isiaka, a mother, whose three children were part of eight found dead in a parked Honda Pilot Jeep at Adelayo Street, Jah-Micheal, in Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Badagry, Lagos, has revealed that her children never went to Saliat Kassim’s compound to play.

Hafusat, who said she has lived in the community for close to seven years, maintained her children only played within their compound and that of a fellow Nigerien not too far from her house.

Speaking on the death of her children, the distraught mother told our correspondent that the eight children found dead in the parked jeep were pilled on top of one another as though someone killed them and carried them into the vehicle.

Demanding that the police and the Lagos State Government ensure she get justice for the death of her children – Zainab, 12, AbdulWahab, 5, and Yakubu 3 – Hafusat insisted that a man called Kassim is culpable in the act.

She said: “ It was Kassim that strolled out to inform me that my children are in the parked jeep. I rushed there and couldn’t even see inside the jeep clearly because it had tinted glasses. I looked closely and discovered the children were motionless. I ran out immediately and started calling neighbours to come to my aid. My other daughter who was with me rushed to call my husband from the mosque.

“ When people came, they tried to force the door open, but it was difficult. A young man who I guess lives with the woman went in and brought out the key to the jeep. When we opened it, seven of the children were lifeless. Kassim’s grandchild was still breathing so people rallied to take her to the hospital and just left the other children laying there.

“When my husband came, on seeing his three children dead, he immediately started coughing blood, the shock was too much for him to bear. What surprises me more is that my children have never gone to that compound to play. They either played in our compound or went to another couple's compound who is also from Niger to play.

“ I want the police and indeed the government to ensure we get justice. A person cannot kill those children and go free.”

Similarly, Hafusat’s husband, Alidu Isiaka, spoke about the tragic demise of his children.

Still shocked, Alidu said he had checked on the children while at Arabic school, before leaving to visit a friend, Baba Bintu.

He also stated that his children had never gone to the compound to play, saying the location of Kassim’s house is a bushy area

He called for government’s help. “I left the house around 1:30 p.m. on my way, I thought I would meet my children returning from Arabic school, but I didn’t. I decided to check on them in school. I discovered they had not closed.

“ It was hours later when one of my daughters rushed to come to call me at Baba Bintu’s place that his three siblings were dead. I rushed to the scene and could not believe my eyes. What baffles me more is that my children don’t go to that compound. Although we have buried the children, we still want the police to investigate, ” he said.

Another man, Ibrahim Jubrila, who lost two of his children in the incident, said the request to pay N100,000 for an autopsy is beyond his reach. He pleaded with the Lagos State government to kindly come to their aid.

Credit: MJBlog