The family of 60-year-old Olawunmi Omoyajowo are still reeling from the tragedy that befell them last Saturday when she was crushed alongside her pregnant daughter and granddaughter on their way back from a church vigil at Ikeja, Lagos.
The three of them were reportedly hit by a car driven by a group of drunk youths said to be coming from a club in the wee hours of Saturday. Omoyajowo’s 26-year-old pregnant daughter survived with a broken leg and other injuries.
Dead: Granddaughter and grandma, Omoyajowo
Scene of the accident
The older woman and the granddaughter, Ayomide, who was mounted on her back during the journey back home from the Celestial Church of Christ, Unity Road, Ikeja, were pronounced dead at the hospital.
The little girl’s death came just two days to her second year birthday, the family toldSaturday PUNCH. Her parents were said to have put preparations in place to celebrate the day.
“The little girl was inseparable from our mother while they were alive. Wherever her grandma went, she was there with her,” a younger sister of the survivor, Funmi told our correspondent.
The owner of the vehicle involved in the accident is in custody while the other young men who were in the car fled.
The authorities of the CCC where the victims had attended the overnight programme indicated they did not want to comment when they were contacted.
Our correspondent visited Adefemi Hospital, Ikeja, where the survivor was receiving treatment and learnt that she had not been told that her mother and first child did not survive the accident.
“An emergency Caesarean Section as been carried out on her to deliver her of her baby. We are happy that at least that went well,” Funmi, told our correspondent. She pleaded for the survivor’s name to be kept off the report.
Mother and child were doing fine, hospital officials said. The woman was under sedation during the visit.
Funmi, who tried to contain her sorrow at the hospital, said it was necessary to put on a cheerful mood for the benefit of her sister.
University of Lagos Mass Communication lecturer, Dr. Soji Alabi, who is Omoyajowo’s nephew, said the tragedy had shattered the family.
He however said, despite the tragedy, the family is still thankful for not losing three generations at the same time.
Alabi said, “The tragedy would have been more terrible than this if we lost her (pregnant survivor) as well. We are particularly thankful that the CS done on her was successful.
“How can a woman go to church to worship God with her daughter and her grandchild on her back, die in the hands of some bunch of careless drunk men coming from a club?
“It is a rude shock to our family and we still cannot comprehend how such a thing could happen. Two days before the incident, grandma was in my house playing with my children.
“She was the kind of peaceful woman who wanted unity in the family. During my birthday in December, she was moving around trying to explain to every family member in attendance why we needed to gather every year as a family.
“Honestly, I’m still finding it difficult to digest that she is actually gone.”
Alabi said he had met with the police at the Area F command in Ikeja over the case and had spoken with the relations of the suspect in custody, who gave the assurance they would assist the police in producing the fleeing suspects.
“I am sure the police will do their job well in this case because they have assured us of that. We are not concerned about any other thing than getting justice. The men must be apprehended and diligently prosecuted,” Alabi said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, has also the police would track down the other youths involved in the incident.
“The owner of the vehicle is with us and he is helping in our investigation to ensure that we track down the others who fled. We will surely get them,” he said.
Culled: Punch
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