Little Elijah had survived to see October 1, 2015 – the day he clocked one – by the sheer grace of God. He could have long died on the evening of September 16, 2015 when a bullet from the rifle of a policeman, Corporal Musefiu Aremu, pierced through the back of his father’s tricycle before hitting his mother who was carrying him at the time, on the head, ending her life in the process. The bullet also shattered the jaw of his father, Godwin. It was a miraculous escape for the toddler – one he would surely grow to cherish and eternally thank God for.
Caroline, who until her tragic demise a little over two weeks ago was planning to give her first and only son yet – Elijah – a befitting first birthday celebration, was knocked down by Aremu’s bullets that fateful evening while returning from church with her three daughters. Godwin, a commercial transporter, had gone to pick the 35-year-old and their four children and was heading to their Ijegun, Lagos, home when they were stopped by a team of policemen who had mounted road block around the Obalagbe bus stop area of the community and harassing motorists into giving them money. The Akwa Ibom State-born father of four was asked to produce N2, 000 for committing virtually no offence but was soon asked to go by one of the officers at the place. But as soon as Godwin made to enter his tricycle and convey his family home, Aremu pulled the trigger, ending Comfort’s life and throwing the household into an endless season of mourning. Elijah and his three sisters would now grow up without the love and affection of their mother.
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“My wife was planning something special for Elijah’s first birthday but death wouldn’t allow her to fulfil that wish,” a heartbroken Udoh told our correspondent at the family’s home on Thursday. “I sincerely appreciate the efforts of all those who have supported the family in various ways since the tragic incident.
“Though I am still receiving treatment, I cannot chew anything with my mouth or use my right hand for now. I am pleading with the authorities for justice to prevail on this matter. The pains I and the children are passing through since the death of my wife are too much. Life has not been the same ever since,” he said.
Dr. Joe Odumakin, whose group – Women Arise – is helping to demand justice for the family told our correspondent that they decided to give Elijah a memorable first birthday celebration in fulfillment of one of his mother’s last desires. She said all promises made to the family in the wake of the tragedy were mere verbal statements that must now be redeemed by the government and police authorities to further ease the sufferings Udoh and his four young children have been subjected to since September 16.
“We are very happy today for the grace upon the life of baby Elijah even though we could have been happier were his mother to be alive with us. She is irreplaceable because she was a great woman who strived to support her husband and take good care of her family.
“We are celebrating Elijah’s birthday today to demand justice and remind the world of the tragedy that greeted this family a few weeks ago because of the high-handedness of a police officer. That single error by the police has cost the family so much pain and there is nothing in this world that can bring her back to life.
“We want the police authorities to ensure that the family gets justice. The last assignment the mother did before she was killed was cuddling Elijah. That was how much she was committed to taking care of her family. The family deserves a huge compensation and a befitting burial for their slain wife and mother.
“The Inspector General of Police has promised that the police would take care of the education of the children but then, that is only verbal; we want it written and documented. The husband of the victim, Mr. Godwin Udoh, must also be taken care of as well because his source of livelihood has been badly affected,” Odumakin said.
Aremu, following his arrest and detention, would face murder charges when hearing resumes into the matter on October 19 in a Lagos court. Whether or not the family gets full compensation for their loss, little Elijah would grow up learning how he could have breathed his last on the night his mother was stolen from him.
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