8 Children Found Dead Inside Car in Lagos Buried Without Autopsy

Femi Ashekun & Agency Report/

The Medical Director, Badagry General Hospital, Lagos State, Dr. Tunde Bakare, has disclosed how the police agreed with relations of the eight children reportedly found dead in an abandoned car to bury them without an autopsy.

Bakare, who spoke with newsmen, yesterday, said the children were brought dead to the hospital.

“When we told them to leave the bodies so that we could carry out an autopsy, one Muslim cleric that followed them disagreed with our staff and said burial should not exceed Saturday.

“Unfortunately, the police (officers) that brought the corpse supported the cleric so we had to release the corpses to them,” he said.

The disclosure by Bakare however contradicted claims by police authorities in Lagos in a statement on the incident today.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the death of eight children but said that their bodies had been recovered and deposited at the Badagry General Hospital’s morgue for an autopsy to determine the actual cause of death.

He said a preliminary investigation indicated that the children mistakenly locked themselves in an abandoned car while playing at Adelayo Street, Agunlayo, Jah Michael, near the Magbon area of Badagry.

“Notwithstanding the report made to the Police, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered a thorough and speedy investigation into the circumstances surrounding their death.

“The CP also commiserates with the families of the victims,” he said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the eight children were found dead in a vehicle parked in front of the owner’s house.

Suru Avoseh, commissioner, Lagos State Civil Service Commission, said that the abandoned car belonged to a retired LASU staff member who is now late.

According to him, the car was forced open by one of the children who was the grandchild of the owner while the other seven are Nigerians residing in the area.

“The other seven kids are children of Bureau De Change Operators living in the community.

“The children forced the door of the vehicle open, entered, and closed the door.

“No ventilation and nobody knew something was wrong and they suffocated and died.

“It wasn’t a kidnapping incident or any foul play by anyone. It is unfortunate,” he said.

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