Family and friends of the late Dr. Afolabi Oladele Mabogunje who was stabbed to death by hoodlums around Shodex area, Anthony, along Ikorodu Road, Lagos, are yet to come to terms with his passing.
To them, Mabogunje’s death has remained a puzzle and one of such, no one would wish his worst enemy.
According to them, it also goes to tell a sordid story of insecurity in a once peaceful environment like Anthony, which was an exclusive reserve for the middle class.
Described as a jolly good fellow, a big brother and father to many foster children and friends, they said his sudden death at 58-years old has shattered the dreams of many.
Fondly called the General by the Cycology club and all affiliated cycling clubs in Lagos, Dr. Mabogunje (Ph.D) they said inspired many to push beyond the limits, find and follow their passions.
Newsclickng.com reports that to mourn his passing, Cyclotron joined his family and other members of the cycling community: Cycology, Pitstop and Mainland (now Mabogs Cycling Crew) on a peaceful ride to project the need for the government to do better in protecting Its citizens.
Meanwhile, still shocked by his sudden death, Mabogunje’s younger brother gave a detailed account of the ugly incident that led to the ‘General’s’ death below:
“My brother was riding early on Thursday morning, Sept 9th 2021, at about 5am, as he has done for about 10yrs now or more. He was at the meet up point- The same one as always. Then two guys with knives attacked him from behind, while he was off his bicycle and making a phone call to his co-cyclers, stabbing him on both sides of his neck, right side of his chest and left arm. In the right side, a gory wound got the internal jugular vein apart from any other structures. The left got a superficial branch of the internal jugular. While struggling/ fighting off the guys his phone dropped, they grabbed it, jumped on a waiting motorcycle and sped off.
“He was gushing out blood with each contraction of the right atrium.
“He needed help, got on his bicycle, held it with one hand, the other hand held his neck wound and rode to a nearby police post but the police were not there. Then he rode to a nearby bank where the security guard had a phone with no credit or data. They were lucky a passerby was able to help him call his wife. She came to the spot , picked him up, threw his bicycle in the trunk of the car and sped off to the nearest hospital- Gbagada general hospital!
“They sutured the smaller wounds, gave IVFluids but had no Cardithoracic surgeon on ground. So he had to be transferred to Lasuth that had CTSU on ground.
Then we hit phase 3 delay- accessing the correct care, at the correct time , in the correct way even after finally getting to the hospital!!!!!!!
“We got there at about 8am, surgery started at about 1.30 pm, no preop resuscitation because they had NO BLOOD!!!! We had to send to Gbagada GH for blood. Friends wanted to donate but the Lasuth blood bank said because of the ongoing ARD strike they didn’t have facilities to bleed the donors!!!
We were in surgery till about 5.20 pm. Was undertransfused, as far as I was concerned. He never woke up from anaesthesia!
“He battled the robbers, he fought for his life, we battled the system and systemic failures, everything that could go wrong went wrong!
“We thank God for the life he lived, for finding and fulfilling his purpose in life, for being a big brother and father to many more than his biological children and siblings.
“The Cycology club and all affiliated cycling clubs in Lagos fondly called him the General!
“He inspired us all to push beyond the limits, find and follow your passion.
I will miss you my dearest bruver, your legacy lives on.”
