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17.01.2025 Featured Nasarawa Police Silent on Investigation Into Reckless-Driving Policeman Who Killed Woman 3 Months Ago

Published 17th Jan, 2025

By Daniel Ojukwu

The Nasarawa State Police Command is yet to provide updates on its investigation into the October 21 death of Patience Ashenanye, a nursing mother who a policeman hit with his vehicle.

Ashenanye and her three-month-old son were passengers on a commercial motorcycle riding through Lafia, the state capital, when a vehicle rammed into them behind Ta’al Conference Hotel, near the School of Health.

The accident left Tasiu Mohammed, the motorcycle rider, with an injured arm. Ashenanye’s son had injuries on his thigh.

After the accident, the police rushed the victims to the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital for treatment. There, medical staff pronounced the woman dead about 20 minutes after they arrived.

Patience Ashenanye’s funeral poster

Two days later, two DPOs visited her husband’s family and offered them N100,000 to help bury her. The family turned it down.

READ MORE: Nasarawa Policeman Knocked Woman Dead. Police Offered Family N100,000 to Bury Her

When George Akube, Ashenanye’s younger brother, spoke with FIJ in October, he said the family did not want to receive any money from the police and were only interested in justice.

He said, “We learnt from witnesses that the policeman was driving a Hilux from the government house. He was driving at full speed, and when he collided with the motorcycle, the damage was very significant to both parties.

“The policeman survived, but my sister died, and her son’s leg broke. My nephew is in the hospital receiving treatment.

“Two days after the incident, we were doing my sister’s wake-keep when two DPOs visited. They approached my brother and me to say they thought my parents would be present. My elder brother asked them, ‘Is it here you want to meet them?’

“They went inside the house to meet my sister’s father-in-law and said that the commissioner sent them to give us N100,000 to help with the burial arrangements. We refused to collect it.”

On October 28, FIJ spoke with Ramhan Nansel, the spokesman for the Nasarawa State Police Command. Nansel said the policeman who drove the vehicle fainted from shock. He also described the N100,000 offer as the commissioner of police’s attempt to reduce medical expenses but added that the police would foot all the bills.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Shehu Nadada psc, mni, upon receipt of the information, sent a delegation to condole with the family, offered support to reduce the medical expenses incurred, and has pledged to foot the bills of those undergoing treatment,” he said.

“Furthermore, the officer who drove the vehicle also visited the family after he was discharged from the hospital.”

Nansel added, “The case is still under investigation at the State Motor Traffic Division.

“The Commissioner of Police has commiserated with the family over the irreparable loss and prayed for the repose of the soul of their daughter/wife and assured them that justice will be served.”

On January 4, FIJ called Nansel, but he did not answer the phone calls. FIJ placed several calls to his number after that date but the police spokesperson did not return any of them. FIJ also sent him a WhatsApp message, which he read but did not reply to.

Akube told FIJ that the family had employed the services of a lawyer, and they would be seeking legal redress in court.

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Published 17th Jan, 2025

By Daniel Ojukwu

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