A tragic incident occurred in the Elega area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, over the weekend, when a domestic dispute between a couple turned deadly. A man identified as Olamide reportedly struck his one-year-old son, Ayinde, with an iron rod during a fight with his wife. The blow, intended for the wife, landed on the child’s head, leading to his death.
According to eyewitnesses and neighbours, the incident happened late on Saturday night, but news of the heartbreaking event surfaced on Monday after a video from the scene was circulated.
Residents said they were alerted to the incident by loud cries coming from the couple’s apartment. A co-tenant, Mrs. Bolatito, who lives in the same building, said she was among the first to respond when the wife began screaming for help.
“At about midnight, I heard the wife calling out to me, saying that Ola had killed Ayinde,” Bolatito recounted. “I rushed out and saw the mother in distress, begging for help to get a vehicle to take the baby to the hospital. I saw some people with a car, and we took the child to Trinity Hospital nearby. Unfortunately, we were told that the baby had died.”
However, confusion followed when, after returning home, they noticed the baby was still making faint sounds. They rushed back to the hospital, but doctors confirmed the baby was dead.
“The rod he used is one of those attached to the weights he lifts. He meant to hit the wife, but sadly, it hit the child on the head. The wife said he had beaten her many times before. In fact, she said she lost a previous pregnancy due to his beating,” Bolatito added.
Neighbours revealed that the family had a history of violent confrontations. Community members told reporters that Olamide was known for his temper and was often violent, especially when under the influence of drugs.
The chairman of the community, Mr. Ramoni Adegbola, also confirmed that the couple frequently fought and that Olamide was suspected of drug abuse.
“I was called by neighbours who heard them fighting. When I got there, they were already with the child, and I was told he had been hit on the head with an iron rod. The child looked restless. I called on other residents to help take him to the hospital. But sadly, he didn’t survive,” Adegbola said.
He further explained, “The man takes all sorts of drugs. There was a time he collapsed after taking something, and we had to carry him. This wasn’t the first time he was violent toward his wife.”
Following the incident, Olamide fled the scene and went into hiding, sparking concerns about whether justice would be served. However, community members later reported that he had turned himself in to the police.
“He ran away after the incident. But I heard today that he went to a police station to report himself,” Adegbola confirmed.
When contacted for comments, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Omolola Odutola, confirmed the case.
“It happened, and the police are investigating,” she said in a brief statement on Monday.
The police have not yet provided further details regarding the investigation or whether any formal charges have been filed against the suspect as of the time of this report.
The tragedy has sparked outrage and sadness among residents and child protection advocates. Many community members are calling for a thorough investigation and swift prosecution of the suspect.
“This is heartbreaking. A one-year-old child died because of domestic violence. It’s time our society took this matter more seriously,” said Mrs. Bisi Adebayo, a women’s rights activist based in Abeokuta.
She called on the government and civil society to do more in raising awareness about the dangers of domestic abuse and supporting victims.
“It starts with verbal abuse, then turns physical. Many women stay silent out of fear or shame. Now a child has paid the price. We must do better,” she said.
Domestic violence remains a growing concern in many parts of Nigeria. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), thousands of women and children suffer physical or emotional abuse in their homes annually.
While there are laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) and various state laws aimed at protecting victims, implementation and enforcement remain weak in many cases.
Women’s rights groups have repeatedly called on police and the judiciary to treat domestic abuse cases more urgently and to provide safe shelters for victims.
Back in Elega, the death of little Ayinde has left the neighbourhood in mourning. Residents described him as a lively, playful child who brought joy to his parents despite their constant arguments.
“This is a sad day for all of us,” said a neighbour who did not want to be named. “We may not have always intervened in their fights, but we never imagined something like this could happen.”
The child’s body has since been buried by the family. His mother, still in shock, is said to be staying with relatives outside the community for the time being.
