A pregnant woman identified as Kudirat Oduola has been reportedly beaten to death over a loan of N2million naira in Oyo State.
Punch reports that, Oduola, a textile trader in Gbagi Market, Ibadan, the state capital, allegedly approached a co-trader, identified only as Oriekun, to assist her with the said amount to buy textile materials.
The victim said to be three months pregnant, was said to have paid the money but her colleague insisted that she would collect N400, 000 as interest since Oduola didn’t pay the money as at when due.
Oriekun was alleged to have hired thugs who beat Oduola to death.
Speaking on the incident, the deceased’s brother, who identified himself as Abdulahi Asimolowo, said Oduola paid the N2m debt five months after it was borrowed.
He said, “It is a common practice among traders at Gbagi Market to assist one another with money to buy goods. No interest is usually charged. This was what happened between my sister and Oriekun.
“Oriekun assisted my sister with the sum of N2m, which was refunded after five months. She, however, insisted that she would collect interest on the money for another five months.
“She said she would collect N400, 000 per month and also threatened the deceased to consider herself a walking corpse if she refused to pay the interest.
“My sister later agreed to pay the interest when she could no longer cope with Oriekun’s harassment. She actually paid some of the interest, but when she could no longer continue, she told Oriekun that she was tired of paying because she could no longer afford it.
“After sometime, some thugs believed to have been sent by Oriekun, dealt with my sister for failing to pay the money. The thugs beat her up and left her when she collapsed. She lost her pregnancy as a result of the attack and she was rushed to the hospital.
“She was taken to a private hospital at Olodo area, and later transferred to the Police Hospital at Eleyele.
“From there, she was transferred to the University College Hospital where she died on July 9, 2016,” Asimolowo added.
The deceased’s brother added that the matter was reported at the Oyo State Police Command and Oriekun was arrested.
Police spokesperson, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said investigation was ongoing and the suspect, if found wanting, will be charged to court.
