1 week to travelling to the USA, man is murdered by conductor over N50

A young Nigerian who was supposed to travel to the United States of America to spend the yuletide holidays, has been murdered by a 'Danfo' bus conductor over a balance of N50, a week before his travel date.

According to the Punch, the deceased, Babatunde Omoyeni, 38, a web designer, was killed by the conductor, Samson Eletu, on December 5, while he was supposed to travel on the 10th, during an argument over transport fare.

The killer conductor, Samson Eletu

Photo Credit: Punch Newspaper

Omoyemi had reportedly gone clubbing with his friends on successfully getting his travel document on Friday, December 4, and on his way back home the following day, he got involved in the argument with the conductor after he had given him the sum of N500 for the journey which N50 but the conductor told Omoyemi he did not have the balance of N450 to give him, thereby leading to a serious disagreement, that led to Eletu stabbing him to death.

It was gathered that angry residents of the Aguda area of Lagos State, where the incident happened almost lynched the conductor but was saved by a community leader who took him to the Aguda Police Division.

An eyewitness narrated how the incident happened:

“The victim was returning home after a party when he entered the bus. He gave the conductor N500, but the conductor told him he didn’t have N450 change, because the fare was N50. When they got to the bus stop, the man demanded his change and that started a fight.

An Alfa in the bus intervened and separated them. But the conductor, who was still aggrieved, trailed the victim to his house with a broken bottle and banged on the gate into the house.

As the deceased opened the gate, Eletu stabbed him. Babatunde took to his heels, but the conductor chased him. Unfortunately, he fell down and the conductor stabbed him repeatedly.”

After stabbing Omoyemi, Eletu attempted to escape the scene but was chased and nabbed by residents who descended on him.

On his part, the 32-year-old suspect said it was Omoyemi that attacked him first.

“I am also a driver and I had parked my bus at about 7pm when I saw a co-driver who offered to take me home.

It was along the way that he decided to pick passengers and there were eight of them in the bus.

I collected money from seven of them, but he refused to pay and said he knew me on the street. It was at the bus stop that he broke a bottle and stabbed me in the forehead and cheek. I also got the same bottle, but unfortunately I stabbed him in the neck and he died.”