Irewoletomiwa Oni, a caterer and single mother from Ogun State, has endured unspeakable physical and psychological suffering after working tirelessly to support her child.
Disagreement over money descended into a nightmare when a police officer’s bullets prevented her from becoming pregnant again, destroying her womb, causing her to have great agony and permanently changing her life since July 24, 2024.
On that incident evening, Irewoletomiwa was returning from an event in Abeokuta, along the Obasanjo-Itele-Ota Road toward Lafenwa when police stopped car and demanded money.
The police scoffed at the offer from the former Lagos State Polytechnic student, who was short on cash, to make a mobile bank transfer, according to Punch.
“One of the officers standing there said, ‘Let them go jare since they don’t have money.’ The next thing I heard was gunshots. When I heard the gunshots, I passed out immediately.
“According to what they told me, I think I woke up five or six days later because I went into a coma straight away. I underwent surgery, and after the procedure, I was told some of my intestines had been cut off, and my digestive system had been altered. I was also told that my womb was affected.
“I could not even go back to my work; I can’t take care of my child anymore. My entire life feels like a dead zone. I can’t do the things I’m supposed to do.
“I can’t even walk freely. I have limits on what I can eat. A lot is going on in my head and my health. There are times when my stomach feels like it’s going to explode. I feel like I’m going to die the next day.”
The father of the caterer talked about the heartbreaking call he got from his son’s friend who told him about the incident at around ten o’clock at night.
“I had to rush to the hospital in Ota that night, when I arrived, I found her in a pool of blood. I didn’t know what to do. The first doctor on duty was only able to provide basic first aid because it was already late.”
“Early the next morning, I asked the driver who had been with my daughter to go to the police station in Itele and inquire about a man named Animashaun, the Divisional Crime Officer. While they were speaking, the driver spotted one of the policemen who had been on duty the night of the shooting. He pointed him out, saying, ‘This is the officer who was shouting, ‘Everybody, come down, everybody, come down, yesterday.’’
“As soon as the officer saw them, he began to move away. The DCO was informed that he was the one who shot her. The DCO told everyone to calm down, but the boy managed to take a photo of the officer and send it to me.”
The father then gave Abiodun Alamutu, the former state commissioner of police, a call to inform him of the situation and to name the personnel he believed were responsible for the crime.
“When we arrived, we met CP Alamutu, who directly told us that the police officers I had accused had confessed to the crime. He said they were the ones involved in the operation that night.”
“The DPO and six officers connected to the case were immediately arraigned before the CP while I was present. The DPO claimed that these officers were conducting illegal work and used their own bus for the operation. She also stated that she wasn’t even aware they had gone on this operation.
“The DPO at the time, CSP Juliana Sodiq, was removed from the station by the CP, who stated that she was not performing her duties properly, given the gravity of this case. The CP then told me that he appreciated my efforts to save my daughter’s life and assured me that any expenses I incurred would be reimbursed.”
“The CP transferred one million naira to me. He said, as a father, he just wanted to contribute. But he added that this wasn’t even part of the money for the treatment.
“He assured me, saying, ‘No problem. Every kobo you spend will be refunded to you.’ So, we continued spending and spending, but by September 3, I realized I couldn’t continue anymore.”
“I called the CP and said, ‘Sir, I’m tired and fed up, so I have to discharge her and take her to another hospital for further treatment.’ After that, I began going to Eleweran with my lawyer to see the CP for financial assistance to cover the money I had already spent and to continue my daughter’s treatment.”
“By December 9, when the CP was retired, we had not received any significant help.
“We then decided to write to the state governor. He’s a father, and we hoped he might be able to help. We wrote more than three letters to the governor, but there was still no response.”
SP Abimbola Odutola, the state police public relations officer, confirmed the incident to punch, that the Police Command is fully aware of the July event from the prior year. The caterer wasn’t abandoned, she said. Additionally, a group of top officers will visit her shortly to evaluate her present state of health.