Pregnant woman reportedly beaten to death over debt

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The victim identified as Kudirat Oduola, who was a textile trader based in Gbagi market, Iwo Road, Ibadan, Oyo State is reported to have been attacked by thugs sent by her creditor.

Correspondents from The Nation reports that the deceased who had been three months pregnant at the time, had approached a fellow trader identified simply as Oriekun, asking for a loan to allow her buy more materials.

Brother to the deceased, Abdulahi Asimolowo, disclosed to the publication that his sister had paid back the loan exactly five months after, adding that Oriekun had insisted on a N400, 000 interest for the five months period.

Speaking with The Nation, he said:

“It is a common practice among traders at Gbagi Market to assist one another with money to buy goods. No interest is usually charged. This was what happened between my sister and Oriekun.

“Oriekun assisted my sister with the sum of N2m, which was refunded after five months. She, however, insisted that she would collect interest on the money for another five months. She said she would collect N400,000 per month. She also threatened the deceased to consider herself a walking corpse if she refused to pay the interest.”

Asimolowo also disclosed that the deceased had later agreed to pay the interest after a lot of harassment from Oriekun, but later realised that she could no longer continue, discontinuing the payments.

“She actually paid some of the interest, but when she could no longer continue, she told Oriekun that she was tired of paying because she could no longer afford it."

The thugs were reportedly sent to attack Oduola on May 19, 2016, for failure to pay the expected interest amount.

“The thugs beat her up and left her when she collapsed. She lost her pregnancy as a result of the attack and she was rushed to the hospital.

“She was taken to a private hospital at Olodo area, and later transferred to the Police Hospital at Eleyele. From there, she was transferred to the University College Hospital where she died on July 9, 2016.”

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Oriekun has now been arrested by the officers from the Oyo State police command, and is awaiting trial.

May the soul of the deceased rest in peace.