Kehinde Oduse, the lone survivor of a brutal arson attack that claimed the lives of his wife and two young children in the Ita Marun community of Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, has succumbed to his injuries.
According to The PUNCH, he passed away in the early hours of Tuesday at Gbagada General Hospital, a week after the tragedy.
The 25-year-old had been battling severe burns sustained during the attack, which occurred on Tuesday, November 26.
The attackers, who remain unidentified, reportedly broke into the family’s residence at around 2 a.m., doused the apartment with petrol, and set it ablaze. Kehinde’s wife, Eniola, 22, and their children, four-year-old Eri and two-year-old Onoara, perished in the inferno.
Kehinde’s twin sister, Taiwo Oduse, confirmed his death, saying, “He passed away around 5 a.m. despite all efforts by the doctors to save him. The burns were too severe. We hoped against hope that he would survive, but it wasn’t to be.”
A family member, Razaq, described the pain Kehinde endured during his final days. “He held on for nearly a week, enduring unimaginable suffering. The doctors had warned us about the odds, but we clung to hope. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it.”
Razaq called the attack a “conspiracy” linked to a dispute over ancestral land. “This is not just a random crime; there’s a deeper motive. Some people in the community have been after our family’s ancestral land.
“We are appealing to the police and relevant authorities to investigate thoroughly and bring those responsible to justice. This tragedy must not be swept under the rug.”
When reporters visited the hospital earlier, Kehinde was seen struggling in the emergency ward, surrounded by grieving family members trying to comfort him.
The family has called for a swift investigation into the incident, urging law enforcement to uncover the truth behind the attack and prosecute the perpetrators.
“This was not just an attack; it was a calculated attempt to erase an entire family. We demand justice for Kehinde, Eniola, Eri, and Onoara,” Taiwo said.
The Lagos State Police Command has yet to release an official statement on the incident.
