It was a moment of sadness for family, teachers and loved ones of deceased Sarah Ibikunle as she was laid to rest on Monday, March 23, 2015 in Ikoyi cemetery in Lagos State.
15-year-old Ibikunle was among the victims killed during a shoot out on Thursday, March 12, 2015 between some police officials and a gang of armed robbers in the Lekki Phase 1 of the state.
On the fateful day, some armed robbers who attacked a branch of First City Monument Bank on Admiralty Way were said to be on the verge of escape when they ran into some police officials around the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge and engaged them in a serious gun duel.
Some police officials were also killed during the encounter.
Her body was taken to a morgue in Yaba where the hospital requested a whooping sum of N100, 000 before they release her corpse to the family.
However, the management later decided to release the corpse on Monday, March 23, 2015 free of charge.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that a pastor had earlier donated N100,000 to the deceased’s family.
Sympathisers who were all sober spoke nicely about the deceased whose dream of becoming a great lawyer was nipped in the bud.
Her class teacher in Itedo Primary School, Mr. Adebayo Moses, stated that she was a very brilliant and friendly.
He said, “She was quite brilliant; not troublesome, accommodating and friendly. Her death is very painful.”
The matron of the school, Mrs. Dorcas Ogundare, added, “The last day she was in school, she came a bit late and I joked with her that she would wash toilets. She just smiled and I told her to rush to the class. She was a child to all of us and had a bright future.”
One of Ibikunle’s schoolmates, Inidara Friday, said that he was stunned by her attitude in school on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 which was her last day in school before the tragic incident.
He said, “She was gentle. She did not play around like other pupils. But that day, she played a lot with her friends. I was surprised to see her in such mood; may her soul rest in peace.”
Expressing immense gratitude to all and sundry who stood by them during the trying times, the victim’s aunt Mrs. Omolafe, said, “The following day it was published that we needed N100,000 to collect Sarah’s corpse, a pastor came and gave us the money. I also thank people who have been coming to sympathise with us. This kind of incident shall not be your portion.”
