LASU student allegedly attacked by landlord demands justice

Udouko Ememabasi, a student at Lagos State University (LASU), has called for justice after being attacked by her landlord, Idowu Shodipo, and his mother.

Ememabasi endured a violent assault on the alleged orders of her landlord on August 12, 2024.

Ememabasi recounted to Daily Trust that she and her friend, Eseh Gift Uduoghene, returned home at 8pm. They found a waste bin placed in front of their room and a neighbour identified the landlord as responsible.

The students approached the landlord but met his mother in her shop. When they questioned her, she became hostile.

“She insulted me and slapped me. She beat me on the spot where I had surgery,” Ememabasi said.

Her friend had to drag her away from the scene. They locked the doors and windows inside their house. The landlord’s mother began hitting their door and banging on their window, shouting insults.

At around 10:30pm, the landlord’s sons returned and tried to break into the house by banging on the door and attempting to melt the iron door.

Ememabasi and her friend were terrified as people outside continued to assault their home.

When they contacted the police, they were told officers were too far away to assist.

“I called my father, but he lives in Ogun state and could not come that night,” she explained.

On August 13, at 5pm, Ememabasi and her friend planned to report the attack to the police. However, they found their apartment door padlocked from the outside.

“We feared for our lives. We couldn’t escape,” she stated.

Her father arrived and pleaded with the assailants to stop. He was deceived into agreeing to stop, but as Ememabasi went out to apologise, the landlord took her apartment key. He sent a boy to attack her and her friend with electric barb wire. Ememabasi became dizzy from the assault.

Her friend was also severely beaten, bleeding from her nose. The attackers were numerous, making the attack seem premeditated.

Dr Surajudeen Fatai, Dean of Students’ Affairs at LASU, said he tried to prevent the brutalisation.

“I went to the hostel after receiving the distress call. I pleaded on their behalf but faced over 50 people,” he narrated.

Ememabasi reported the incident at Adolf Police Station, Iba. She urged authorities to intervene, fearing for her safety due to threats from the landlord and his mother.

The landlord, Idowu Shodipo, dismissed the allegations.

“Ememabasi slapped my mother first. The matter is in court, and we cannot comment until the second hearing,” he stated.

Ememabasi denied hitting the landlord’s mother.

Efforts to reach SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State police command’s spokesperson, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.

Ememabasi continues to seek justice, calling on relevant authorities to protect her from further threats and ensure the perpetrators are arrested.

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