In a tragic incident that has left a family grieving and a community outraged, a young mother was killed after a police officer allegedly crashed into the commercial motorcycle she was riding with her infant son in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The incident occurred behind Ta’al Conference Hotel, near the School of Health, where 35-year-old Patience Ashenenye was a passenger on a motorcycle, commonly known as an okada. Ashenenye was reportedly returning from an errand, her three-month-old son bundled in her arms.
Witnesses say the police officer, who was driving a government-issued Hilux vehicle, was speeding when he collided with the motorcycle. The impact of the crash left Ashenenye and the rider, identified as Tasiu Mohammed, severely injured. Ashenenye’s infant son also suffered a broken leg in the accident.
Sadly, Ashenenye succumbed to her injuries shortly after she was rushed to the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital. Her son and the motorcycle rider remain hospitalized, both battling their own injuries from the tragic accident.
Two days after Ashenenye’s death, members of her grieving family were visited by two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), who reportedly offered the family N100,000 for her burial expenses. According to Ashenenye’s family, the offer was presented as a goodwill gesture to assist with funeral costs.
The family, however, immediately rejected the cash offer, demanding justice instead. Speaking to the press, Ashenenye’s brother, George Akube, expressed the family’s dissatisfaction and anger over the police’s response to their loss.
“The policeman survived, but my sister did not,” Akube said, his voice filled with grief and frustration. “Her son is now in the hospital with a broken leg. We do not want their money; we want justice for her untimely death.”
According to Akube, the officer responsible for the crash was “driving recklessly” in a government vehicle, a claim he believes highlights the abuse of power and lack of accountability that often surround similar incidents.
The Nasarawa State Police Command, in response to public outcry, issued a statement through its spokesperson, Ramhan Nansel. Nansel confirmed that the Command had initiated an investigation into the accident and assured the public that the officer involved was under medical care due to the shock from the incident.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased,” Nansel stated. He explained that the N100,000 was intended to help alleviate the family’s financial burden in the wake of Ashenenye’s sudden passing. He added that the Command has also pledged to cover the medical expenses of Ashenenye’s son and the injured motorcycle rider.
However, Nansel did not confirm whether the officer responsible would face prosecution. “The investigation is ongoing,” he said, leaving questions about accountability unanswered.
The Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Umar Shehu Nadada, also conveyed his sympathies to Ashenenye’s family, expressing regret over the tragedy. Nadada promised that the police would “seek justice,” a statement that many in the community hope will translate into concrete action.
Despite these assurances, residents and activists have voiced skepticism over the police’s intentions. Some have taken to social media to express their disappointment, questioning why such incidents involving police officers often go unpunished. Calls for transparency and accountability have intensified as the community awaits the outcome of the police investigation.
