Beninoise man arrested for murder over birthday pig in Lagos

 

A 30-year-old Beninoise man, Samuel Francis, stabbed 35-year-old Clement Houme to death in Lagos, during a fight over a pig for a birthday celebration. According to reports, Samuel had been contracted by a relative of the deceased, identified as Victoria, to kill the pig for her birthday celebration.

When Houme got there with his brother, he asked the celebrant where they got the pig from,  accusing them of stealing the pig.

According to Punch, an argument ensued among the three men, and in the ensuing scuffle, Samuel stabbed the victim with the knife he brought to slaughter the pig with.

Houme  reportedly died from his injuries.

Samuel, who was also injured, was first treated before he was arrested by policemen from the Tarkwa Bay Police Division.

Samuel that Huome had first attacked his brother.

He said:

“I have my family in Cotonou, but I came to Lagos in 2010 to hustle. I was in my house on Saturday when I was called to kill a pig meant for a birthday celebration.

“The next day, around 6am while I was still on the bed, the people called me on the telephone that I should come. I called my brother, Jeff, to assist me.

ADVERTISEMENT

“When we got there, we were given the pig by a man. It was around 6.30am that Huome came and started quarrelling with us. Before we knew what was happening, he broke two bottles and stabbed my brother in the head. As I tried to restrain him, he came after me and cut me in the hand, as well. When I could not handle it again, I stabbed him in the shoulders with my knife.”

Samuel said he ran to the police station to seek refuge from the deceased and a mob that came to attack him.

He said the police took him to the Lagos Island General Hospital, where he was admitted for a week, before his eventual arrest for the crime.

He said:

“The man’s family has already said they were no longer interested in the case, but the police said it had become a government matter and there was nothing that could be done.

“I have nobody to help me in Lagos. My wife has left me for another man. Our six-months-old baby is now with my grandma in Benin Republic and I came to Lagos to make money; but see where I have found myself?. Who will help me now?”

The suspect was arraigned on Wednesday before an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court on two counts of murder.

The police, in a remand application, said the defendant had confessed to the crime, was identified by witnesses and arrested with a weapon.

The prosecutor subsequently asked the court to remand him in prison, pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

“We have a request for remand, based on Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State.

The remand will enable us to obtain legal advice from the DPP,” Ighodalo said.

The magistrate, Mrs. A.O. Ajibade, agreed to remand the defendant in prison.

The case was adjourned till October 23, 2015 for legal advice.