Tragedy struck the Ejibo area of Lagos State yesterday as a 10-year-old boy identified as Israel, reportedly strangled his friend Ezekiel, till death during a football match. Ezekiel later died in hospital.
The incident happened on Friday while the suspect and other children including the deceased, were said to be playing football in Oluwole street, Powerline Ejibo area, when the an argument ensued between the two.
A police source on Saturday said the match was ongoing when an argument ensued between the two boys.
According to the source, Israel reached for 10-year-old Ezekiel’s neck in the process and strangled him till he lost consciousness and stopped breathing.
The source said, The bereaved mother, according to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer SP Benjamin Hudenyin, reported the matter at the Ejibo Police division, on Friday evening.
He said, “The complaint was received on March 28, 2024, at about 6.20pm, by the mother of the deceased whose shop is situated where the children were playing football.
“She said during the fight, Ezekiel held her son in the neck and strangulated him until he died.”
“A team of detectives visited the scene, where a photograph of the corpse was taken and the body was taken to the General Hospital in the Isolo area of the state where the doctor confirmed him dead,” the source added.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the body of the deceased has been transferred to the mortuary for post-mortem examination.
He said, “The body has been transferred to the mortuary for post-mortem examination. The suspect is in police custody, and an investigation is in progress.”