Police officer dies while fighting wife

A police inspector, attached to a division in Apapa, Lagos, Inspector Danjuma Daniel, on Thursday afternoon died during a fight with his wife.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the scuffle between Daniel and his wife got so physical that the couple fell from the balcony of their apartment ─ a two-storey building. The couple, it was learnt, was staying at the Ijeh Police Barracks, Obalende, Lagos.

Our correspondent gathered that the police inspector and his wife, identified simply as Ada, who had lived in the barracks for about 10 years, sustained grave injuries from the fall.

It was further gathered that when they were rushed to a nearby hospital, Daniel was said to have been confirmed dead by the medical personnel, while the wife was admitted for treatment.

Our correspondent learnt that Ada, a trader in a nearby market, was discharged from the hospital on Saturday morning.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Daniel’s first son, Emmanuel, said he was informed about his father’s death on the telephone.

Daniel explained that he was staying with an uncle in the Mile 2 area of the state.

He said, “I don’t know what could have caused the fight. I was not at home. Dad and mum have lived in this barracks for about 10 years now.

“We were formerly staying in Nasarawa State where dad initially served. In Lagos, I don’t stay with them, but my two sisters do. Mum has returned from the hospital, and she is back home now, but she cannot talk to anyone for now.”

While the conversation was going on, some neighbours of the couple asked our correspondent to leave the premises, scolding the 17-year-old boy for talking to PUNCH Metro.

However, it was learnt from a resident that Daniel, an Eggon man from Nasarawa State, had had clashes with his wife before the incident. The source added that the fight on Thursday turned ugly and led to their falling off from the two-storey building.

The Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Lelma Kolle, said he would get back to our correspondent on the matter, but he had yet to do so as of press time.

(PUNCH)