WHEN 35-year-old Alli Sani, a bureau de-change operator, in Apapa area of Lagos left home for work on Monday, April 30, 2012, his family could never have suspected he would not be coming home to them, ever again.
But that was exactly what happened.
That fateful day, Alli had received a telephone call with the caller requesting for $50,000.00.
Unaware that danger lurked ahead, the Rimi, Kano State-born money-changer rallied round to make up the amount and set out to Exclusive Mansion Hotel on Marine Road, Apapa, where his caller was waiting.
An account of what happened, as obtained by The Guardian, was that immediately Alli stepped into the hotel room, a 25-year-old Lebanese identified as Dilale Bilal, who had made the call requested for the dollars, which Alli gave to him.
But instead of giving Alli the naira equivalent, some persons emerged from the toilet and attacked the bureau de-change operator, hitting him on the head with a stick and he fell.
As he struggled to regain his balance, Bilal reportedly brought out a knife and stabbed him.
Thereafter, Bilal rushed out of the hotel room in a blood-stained shirt, attempting to leave the hotel but was stopped by a security guard.
A drama ensued as Bilal reportedly brought out a knife threatening to stab whoever tried to stop him.
But for the timely arrival of policemen from Apapa Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Mohammed Mu’azu, the Lebanese would have escaped.
He was then arrested alongside two Nigerians, Segun Awonike and Benjamin Oluwole.
During investigation, Bilal told policemen that his other two partners, Mohammed Jamail and Hassan Jamail, had escaped. It was discovered that the suspects at large, were father and son.
According to Alli’s business partner, Muhammed Lawal:“ When the Lebanese informed him that he would send his driver to come and pick him to the hotel where he lodged, he told me to follow him secretly behind. When they arrived the hotel, I hid outside. I waited for a very long time for my friend to come out but he did not and that made me suspicious. I called his number but there was no response. Not long after, I saw one white man with bloodstains all over his body trying to escape but the gate man started shouting for help. The shout alerted me and other people in the hotel. That was what made me call our chairman and my other colleagues that they should call the police.
“The police arrived and seized the Lebanese and when we followed him into the room, I saw my friend in the pool of his blood.
The police search the hotel room and found two other persons.”
According to chairman of bureau de-change operators, Mallam Garba Kano, “ When I got wind of the report, I quickly alerted the DPO Apapa, who I rushed there with his men. But for him, the suspects would have escaped. We took Alli to three hospitals where he was rejected.
By then, he was no longer talking. We then rushed him to Lagoon Hospital even after we were able to deposit N750, 000, he died hours later.
It was not as if Alli went to meet the Lebanese just like that. His telephone number was given to the Lebanese by someone Alli knew very well.”
The police is still investigating the matter with the intent on arresting other fleeing suspects as sources said security agents are beaming their searchlights on the airports, seaports and borders, with the Immigration and border patrolmen placed on red alert.
Meanwhile, the remains of the Rimi-born Alli remains had been buried while his widow and three children were said to have left for Kano last Wednesday.
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