Man tied, left for dead by family over retirement benefits

Residents of Oko-Filling, a tranquil neighborhood in the Araromi area of Ijoko, Sango Ota, were left in shock after rescuing a man who was allegedly tied up and left for dead by his wife and children following a dispute over his retirement benefits.

The disturbing incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, March 13, at the family’s residence, drawing widespread condemnation and concern over the level of greed and family betrayal involved.

According to reports, trouble began when the retired man, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, refused to hand over his entire retirement benefits to his wife and four sons. Instead, he chose to distribute the money according to his own plans.

After receiving his pension payout, he reportedly opened two shops for his wife at Abule and also gave her a sum of N3 million.

In addition, he purchased a vehicle worth N12 million for himself, given that the family already owned a house in the community.

However, his wife and children, all of whom are university graduates, were allegedly unsatisfied with the way the money was shared and sought to extract more from him.

Tensions escalated when the man sold the newly purchased vehicle shortly after acquiring it, raising suspicions among neighbors.

A landlord in the area, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, recounted the shocking discovery.

According to him, concerned residents were alerted to unusual noises coming from the residence in the early hours of the morning.

“He was tied like an animal to be slaughtered. They (his wife and children) hired about six men of northern extraction (popularly referred to as ‘Aboki’) to bind him up. It was the strange noise from their packing activities that drew the attention of neighbors, who then gathered in front of the house to investigate,” the landlord said.

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Unable to ignore the situation, some landlords in the area approached the house and saw a small commercial bus, locally known as ‘Korope,’ parked outside, with the man’s wife and sons hurriedly packing household items into it.

“When the residents asked about the man, the response from the family was not convincing. Suspicious, they forced their way inside the house and found him completely bound, with the hired men still inside the premises as if they were waiting for further instructions.

“The man was immediately untied and rushed to the hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment. His wife, children, and the hired men were apprehended and taken to the police station,” the landlord added.

One of the hired men later confessed at the police station that the man’s wife had contracted them to tie him up, further implicating her in the scheme.

The chairman of the Anjomo Community Development Association (CDA), Emmanuel Omola, corroborated the landlord’s account in an audio message circulating among residents.

According to Omola, the woman had earlier visited the police station on the evening of March 12, falsely claiming that her husband was attempting to kill her. The police instructed her to return with a vehicle to transport officers to her residence for an arrest. However, she never returned to the station.

“Instead, she went home with some of the hired men and orchestrated the attack on her husband. While they were packing household belongings, neighbors became suspicious and intervened just in time,” Omola said.

He emphasized the importance of vigilance, urging people to always pay attention to unusual noises and disturbances in their surroundings.

“We should not be indifferent to strange sounds in our neighborhood. If not for the swift action of the landlords, the man would have likely lost his life. It’s crucial for everyone to remain vigilant and respond to emergencies,” Omola warned.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ogun State, CSP Omolola Odutola, stated that she had not yet been briefed on the incident.

As investigations continue, the community remains in shock over the level of betrayal and cruelty exhibited by the man’s own family.

Many residents have expressed outrage, calling for justice to be served and for the authorities to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

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