Street football turns bloody as boy stabs SS2 student to death in Lagos

Tuesday, 19 July 2016

Street football turns bloody as boy stabs SS2 student to death in Lagos

A bloody clash in a street football game between youths in Okota, Lagos, has claimed the life of Michael Tanko, SS2 student of Hills International School.

According to a report on Vanguard, what should have been a friendly street football game turned bloody after one of the players stabbed Tanko to death during a misunderstanding.

It was gathered that the tragic incident occurred after youths from Oseni Liade street were playing football at the end of the street, when a group of boys from neighbouring Taiwo street came to join them.

However, the visiting youths were told to wait for their turn. Shortly after the end of the first round, another set of players, among who were the visiting youths, were expected to take over the football pitch, but eyewitnesses said they were disallowed, an action that triggered a fight.

In the process, one of them, Kayode Babayanju, of 8, Taiwo Street, was alleged to have stabbed Michael Tanko in the hollow of his left elbow. Tanko, SS2 student, reportedly chased his assailant until he became dizzy and slumped. He was confirmed dead moments before reaching the hospital he was rushed to.

According to doctors at the hospital, Tanko bled to death, as the arteries in the hollow of the elbow were cut. He was an orphan, who came to live with his uncle in Lagos last year, after the demise of his only sibling.

It was gathered that his guardian, Oke Obi Odiaka, was still in shock as at Monday, July 18, when the news got to him. Also, there are reports that the mother of the fleeing assailant and her relatives went visiting Tanko’s guardian at about 4pm yesterday. She was said to have gone down on her knees and begged in tears immediately the woman sighted the bereaved family.

However, the family insisted that they produce their fleeing son to the police.

Confirming the incident, Lagos state police command’s spokesman, Superintendent Dolapo Badmus, said: “Effort is being intensified to arrest the suspect who fled the scene immediately after committing the offence. The corpse has been deposited at the Isolo General Hospital morgue.”