On the afternoon of October 21, 35-year-old Patience Ashenenye’s life came to an abrupt end when a policeman rammed a vehicle into the commercial motorcycle she and her three-month-old son were passengers on.

The incident occurred behind Ta’al Conference Hotel, near the School of Health, Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Tasiu Mohammed, the motorcycle rider, sustained injuries. Ashenenye and her son also sustained injuries, but while the toddler and Mohammed ended up in the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital for treatment, medical staff pronounced the woman dead about 20 minutes after police rushed her there.

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

When George Akube, Ashenenye’s younger brother, spoke with EQ on Monday, he said the family was only interested in justice rather than monetary compensation.

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Patience Ashenenye’s funeral flyer

“We learnt from witnesses that the policeman was driving a Hilux from the government house,” Akube told EQ. “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.”

Patience Ashenenye’s wake-keep

When EQ spoke with Ramhan Nansel, the spokesman for the Nasarawa State Police Command, on Monday, he said he had not heard about the incident.

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When he got back to EQ later that day, he said the police were investigating the claims, but that the policeman involved in the accident suffered shock and was also rushed to the hospital.

In a statement he shared with EQ, the police said, “Unfortunately, Mrs Patience Akla [Ashenenye] passed away while receiving medical attention while her son and the motorcyclist sustained fractures on the thigh and arm, respectively, and are currently undergoing treatment, while the police officer driving the police van was also hospitalised at the Police Clinic, Lafia, as a result of shock.”

He described the N100,000 offer as the commissioner of police’s attempt to reduce medical expenses but added that the police would now 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.”

EQ asked Nansel if the Command would be prosecuting the policeman, but he replied, “We cannot preempt the investigation.” However, he promised to keep EQ updated on developments.
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