Anguish as Hoodlums Kill Popular Cyclist in Lagos to Steal his Phone

Femi Ashekun/

A passionate cyclist and patron of the Cycology Cycling Club, Afolabi Mabogunje, popularly known as General Mabogs, has been stabbed by suspected hoodlums at a black spot in Lagos.

NewsmakersNG learnt that Mabogunje was waiting for his co-cyclists in the early hours of Thursday, September 9, when the assailants descended on him in an attempt to disposses him of his mobile phone.

They reportedly stabbed him in the neck in the process and fled the scene, leaving him for dead.

One of his friends, Abidemi Solaja, who posted about the bloody attack on Facebook, said Mabogunje died from the injury days later.

Solaja wrote, “He was a passionate cyclist who loved exercising by riding bicycle alongside other friends. On Thursday, September 9, in the morning, he was mugged and stabbed in the neck by robbers just because they wanted his cell phone. It was after stabbing him they demanded the phone which he would have graciously given them if hitherto, they asked first.

“This incident occurred at Shodex, Anthony (the cycling club meeting point) while he was waiting for other cyclist friends. He struggled on his bike to Gbagada (General) hospital for urgent medical attention but attempts to stop the bleeding were unsuccessful as the jugular veins on both sides of the neck had been ruptured.”

Solaja explained that Mabogunje was immediately transferred to the intensive care unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for a surgery.

“After the surgery, he was initially stable but later slipped into a coma and never came out of it until he gave up the ghost. Afolabi was a rare gem and a complete gentleman; may his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen,” he added.

A former classmate of the deceased, Adewale Adefuye, said he and a friend had planned to reach out to Mabogunje after learning that his phone had been stolen.

“What a senseless, unwarranted death! I cry not as one without hope—but the pains are heavy to bear; for the loved ones you left behind: your parents, wife, children, siblings, classmates, family and friends,” he bemoaned.

Editor