A 35-year-old Patience Ashenenye lost her life after a police officer allegedly collided with the commercial motorcycle she was riding with her three-month-old son in Nasarawa State.
The accident occurred behind the Ta’al Conference Hotel, close to the School of Health, leaving both Ashenenye and the motorcycle rider, Tasiu Mohammed, injured while her infant son sustained a broken leg.
Ashenenye was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital. Her family, mourning the loss, received a visit from two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) two days later, who offered them N100,000 as burial support. However, the family firmly rejected the offer, emphasizing that their primary concern was justice for Ashenenye’s untimely passing.
George Akube, Ashenenye’s brother, accused the responsible officer of speeding in a government-owned Hilux vehicle at the time of the accident. “The policeman survived, but my sister did not. Her son is now in the hospital with a broken leg,” he stated in an interview with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism.
In response to the incident, the Nasarawa State Police Command confirmed that an investigation has been initiated. Spokesman Ramhan Nansel expressed sympathy for the family and indicated that the officer involved was hospitalized due to shock from the incident. He stated that the N100,000 offer was intended to assist with medical expenses for those injured in the crash, and the Command has committed to covering all related medical costs.
Police Commissioner Umar Shehu Nadada extended condolences to the Ashenenye family, assuring them of the Command’s dedication to seeking justice in this tragic case. However, Nansel did not clarify whether the officer would face prosecution, citing the ongoing investigation.
