Confusion in Ogun as passenger dies in taxi

Tragedy struck in Kemta-Idi Aba area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday morning as a passenger jerked suddenly and died inside

a taxi on his way to buy herbal medicine.

The passenger, later identified as Michael Hogan, was said to have boarded the taxi from Odeda in Odeda Local Government and on his way to Idi Aba in the Abeokuta metropolis when tragedy struck.

Our correspondent gathered that the driver of the taxi got to know of the strange death of his passenger when he would not alight from the car on getting to his destination.

The driver consequently raised an alarm that attracted fellow taxi drivers and passers-by to the scene.

Hogan, who had been ill for sometime, was said to be hurrying to the home of a vendor of herbal remedies in Abeokuta, but he did not make it.

Passers-by were said to have encouraged the driver to carry the remains of the passenger to the nearest police station,  Kemta-Idi Aba Divisional Police Headquarters, Kemta.

At the police station, another round of confusion ensued as the police did not only detain the driver, but also had to contend with the curious crowd that  besieged the station in a bid  to catch a glimpse of both the driver and corpse.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi,  confirmed the incident, saying the driver discovered, around 7:45am, that his passenger, now identified as Michael Hogan, had died in his car at Iyana Mortuary area  and went to the Police station to report it.

Adejobi, a deputy superintendent of police,  said the family of the deceased  had been contacted, and they claimed Hogan had been ill for a long time.

He said, “The family said Hogan left home early in the morning for Abeokuta to collect herbal remedies not knowing that would be his end.

“The police will soon release the corpse to the family for burial as requested after due process must have been followed.”