ONDO: 38-year-old widow dies while trying to retrieve TV seized by tax collectors

Tears flowed freely after a 38-year-old widow identified as Mrs. Toyin Adelanke, a trader, died in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State after a scuffle she had with tax collectors.

According to her 89-year-old mother, Mrs. Abike Ijiyemi, her daughter who was about to prepare a meal for her was accosted by tax officials who tried to seize her television for failure to pay tax.

Mrs Ijiyemi said her daughter later got involved in a scuffle with the tax collectors as she dragged her television with the government officials and in the process fell down hard on the floor.

Reports say the tax collectors who later succeeded in confiscating the TV of the trader, left her unattended to and moments later it was discovered that the widow had passed on.

Speaking moments after her body was deposited at the morgue of the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, the mother of the deceased said; “In the morning of the day she was killed, she called me and said that she had bought some foodstuffs for me. She promised to bring them to me at Idanre the second day. Instead of coming to fulfil her promise, it was the announcement of her death they brought to me.

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“My daughter was a widow. Her husband died four years ago. She has been singlehandedly taking care of their only child since then. She was the one who sponsored the education of their 24-year-old son up to the Gateway Polytechnic in Ogun State. She was the person taking care of me and paying my debts.

Also, Toyin’s sister, Mrs. Mojisola Otitilowo, said the deceased was in her shop at Bolajoko Street, Oke-Aro area of Akure about 2p.m. when the government officials invaded her shop.

“They were four in number. Three of them disembarked from the vehicle they brought. “They did not accept her plea. One of them removed the television from where it was but Toyin started dragging it with them.”

Mrs Ijiyemi said after the local government officials succeeded in taking her TV, they left her unconscious on the floor.

“A woman, who came to buy sachet water, discovered that Toyin was unconscious where she lay on the floor of the shop and raised the alarm which attracted neighbours who rushed in and started pouring water on Toyin to revive her.”

Confirming the incident, Mr. Femi Joseph, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said the suspects have been arrested over the death of Mrs. Adelanke and they will be made to face the law soon.

 

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