The Bovita community in Badagry, Lagos State, is reeling from a devastating tragedy that has left a young family shattered and a neighborhood demanding answers.
On the night of Saturday, 13 September, 2025, 28-year-old artisan Ayienugba Ezekiel was found dead in an abandoned fish pond—with his hands tied behind his back.
Earlier that evening, Ezekiel had told his wife, Abiola, he was heading to a birthday party. When he failed to return by 9 p.m., concern quickly turned to panic. Hours later, his lifeless body was discovered in the pond near the party venue. His brother, Razak, who entered the murky water to search, found Ezekiel kneeling, bound, and unresponsive.
The family insisted he was murdered, pointing to the absence of water in his lungs as evidence that he did not drown.
Abiola, now a widow and mother to a toddler, described the moment her world collapsed: “We’ve only been married for three years. He was so excited about taking our son to school for the first time on Monday. Now, he’s gone. I just want justice for his murder”.
Local sources alleged a scuffle broke out during the party, and that Ezekiel may have been restrained on orders from the celebrant. What happened next remains a mystery.
The Lagos State Police Command has launched an investigation, but the community is demanding swift and transparent action.
This tragedy has sparked widespread grief and fear in Badagry, where Ezekiel was known for his cheerful spirit and devotion to his family.
