Grace Joseph, widow of commercial bus driver Joseph Okpe, has accused the Nigerian Air Force of deserting her family after her husband allegedly died from assault by officers along the Oshodi–Apapa Expressway in Lagos.
Okpe died a few hours after he was allegedly beaten by a group of officers following a minor traffic incident involving their vehicle.
The spokesperson for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed on Tuesday that all officers involved had been detained and that the case was under investigation by civil and military authorities.
He said the NAF had extended condolences to the family and visited them to express sympathy and support.
However, in a telephone interview on Wednesday, Grace said the Air Force had not fulfilled assurances given during the condolence visit.
“He was the breadwinner. The Air Force officers came to visit us, and the way they spoke gave me hope. But after they left, everything changed. I have not heard from them again. My husband was the one feeding and taking care of the family, and now he is gone,” she said.
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The mother of three said her children keep asking about their father. “The children have been asking about their father, especially the youngest one. Since the day my husband died, he has been crying because he misses his father. My youngest child is five years old. My daughter is 10 years old, and my first child is 14 years old.”
She added that Air Force representatives gave her N200,000 during the visit for feeding. “They gave me N200,000 when they came. They said it was for me to use and feed the children. Since then, I have never received another call from them. I feel very sad about it. I really do.”
Grace appealed to the government to support her children’s welfare and education. “What I want the government to do for me is to help me train my children and support their education. Their father was the one responsible for them and took care of all their needs. I want the government to take responsibility and help ensure that the children can continue their education and have a future.”
Account of the incident
Recalling the events, Grace said the tragedy was a shock. “On the day it happened, both of us left the house at the same time. I was going to visit one of my sisters, while my husband had gone to work. That night, I received a call after 8 p.m. The woman who called asked if I was Joseph’s wife. I said yes, and she told me that my husband had been involved in an accident. I was shocked.”
She contacted her husband’s elder brother and informed him. They tried to get to the hospital in Mushin but could not find transport late at night. The doctor later called back to inform her that Okpe had died. The next morning she went to the hospital and saw her husband’s body.
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