A family dispute over a relatively small debt of 4,000 Naira has ended in tragedy and a police investigation, with the accused claiming the shooting was a terrible accident during a confrontation that escalated to weapons.
Lekan Lasisi, a resident of Ogun State, has confessed to shooting his stepbrother, attributing the incident to a moment of panic and an unintentional trigger pull during a heated argument. The altercation reportedly stemmed from Lasisi's frustration over being approached by creditors seeking repayment of debts incurred by his brother.
The Escalation: From Words to a Cutlass and a Rifle
In a video statement, Lasisi, who identified himself as a local hunter, recounted the events. He stated that after confronting his stepbrother about the debt and the "shame" it was causing the family, the argument turned violent. "He was the one who first brought out a cutlass," Lasisi claimed. Faced with a machete, Lasisi said he retrieved his hunting rifle. He insists the shooting was not intentional: "I brought out a gun, but it accidentally discharged and hit him. I do not intend to kill him."
Following the incident, Lasisi expressed deep remorse and pleaded for leniency, citing extreme family circumstances. In his appeal, he highlighted an aged and ailing mother and another sibling who is bedridden, framing his actions within a context of pressure and a desperate domestic situation.
The case highlights the dangerous potential for everyday disputes to spiral into fatal violence, especially in situations where weapons are readily accessible. Police are continuing their investigation to determine the full circumstances of the shooting and verify the claim of accidental discharge, as the community grapples with the consequences of a family torn apart by debt and a single, fateful moment.
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