Woman slumps, dies during argument on N50 debt

 From GBENGA ADESUYI, Ibadan
 Adifase community in Apata-Ganga area of Ibadan, the Oyo capital was thrown into confusion last weekend after a middle aged woman who sold cassava flour, identified simply as Mama Fatimah slumped and died during an argument, which ensued between her and one of her customers said to be owing her N50.

 The deceased, said to have recently got married to a masquerader called Aregbesola in the area had arrived her shop around 7.00p.m last Saturday and was preparing the cassava flour when suddenly she saw one of her debtors, a lady, who was said to have bought N50 worth of cassava flour on credit for over two weeks.

 Mama Fatimah was said to have ran after the debtor with the intention to collect her money from her. A hot argument, Daily Sun gathered, ensued between the two after the lady insisted on not paying the money that night, since according to her, she had no money on her at the time.

 It was during the argument, according to an eye witness that Mama Fatimah slumped and died, while the debtor to her heels. Efforts to revive the cassava seller, however, failed as she died on the way to the hospital.

 The deceased’s husband, Aregbesola was said to have immediately reported the incident at Apata Police Divisional, claiming that his wife was murdered by the debtor.But in what appeared to be a division within the family, the children of the deceased were said to have kicked against the idea of their mother’s husband reporting the case at the police station.

 To them, Aregbesola did not have any say on the corpse of their mother, since there was no child between them.
 The deceased’s family later went to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Apata Police Divisional, Ganiyu pleading for the release of the woman’s corpse for burial. Their request was said to have been turned down by the DPO on the ground that signal had been sent to the state police headquarters.