A 47-year-old butcher, Mutiu Balogun, has been arrested for allegedly beating a 70-year-old colleague, Yekeen Alaja, to death at the Moniya Abattoir in Ibadan.
The incident occurred on Thursday, May 16, amidst an argument that escalated into violence. According to eyewitness accounts, the confrontation began when Balogun, known as “Mutiu Iroko,” went to lodge a complaint with Alaja, who was the head of the family, regarding a disagreement with Alaja’s younger brother, Yisau Alaja.
“Instead of the suspect to calmly state his position, he started raining curses and abusive words,” said Musiliu Alaja, a family member of the deceased. “This later generated an argument.”
When Alaja attempted to caution Balogun, the younger butcher reportedly responded by violently punching the older man until he collapsed. Alaja was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“The issue wouldn’t have generated a controversy if they had listened to other traders who were trying to resolve the matter,” lamented another eyewitness. “Now, it has claimed one life. May God repose his soul.”
Balogun has been arrested by a combined team of Amotekun operatives and police from the Moniya Divisional Police Headquarters for further interrogation. The incident has left the local butcher community in a state of shock and grief over the tragic loss of life.
