The 22-year old suspected murderer, Abdulateef Tanko from Taraba State , who allegedly murdered his employer, a 50-year-old businesswoman, Mabel Okafor, who lived alone in her duplex at No. J68B, Close 9, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Ajah, Lagos, has confessed to the crime saying he did not kill her boss because of an argument over salary as it was widely speculated.
Tanko, who was arrested by detectives of the Lagos State Police Command in Taraba State, was paraded on weekend by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Fatai Owoseni, at the Command headquarters in Ikeja.
Tanko who fled immediately he discovered his late boss was lifeless said: “I didn’t have any argument with her over my salary. When I resumed, she told me that my salary was 18,000 Naira and I agreed with her. I don’t know why I killed her. I am not a member of Boko Haram.
“I swear, I don’t know them. Her former security guard was the one that gave me her telephone number to come and meet her. I was there for just one month before I decided to kill her. I don’t know her name. I only call her madam.
“Nobody asked me to kill her, I did it myself and I can’t point to one reason why I killed her. It was as if something entered me. When I stabbed her, she fell on the ground and shouted my name. Some neighbours came asking what happened, but I told them that Madam saw a cockroach, that was why she shouted my name. They were all convinced and left. It was then that I recovered.
“I was shocked and I asked her, Madam what happened? Before I realized what transpired, she was already dead. I stabbed her on the stomach four times. When I realized she was dead, I became afraid and ran back to my village in Taraba State in the evening.
“The incident happened at night. I was already in my village sleeping when police arrested me. When she died; I carried her three phones, clothes and ten thousand Naira from her purse. I sold the three phones for 60, 000 Naira, but I haven’t sold the clothes yet. My parents are already dead; I only have two sisters who were also not around when I got home. I live alone.”
While parading him, Owoseni said they have arrested two suspects in connection with the murder, assuring that the culprits would be brought to justice as soon as investigation was concluded.
The police boss added that in the course of ensuring security of lives and property in Lagos State, the police had so far arrested five armed robbery suspects, one kidnapper and also recovered four different arms and five vehicles last week.
He appealed for continued support from Lagos residents to enable the police make the state unhabitable for criminals and crooks.