The Metropolitan Police say they have arrested three persons for the death of a 15-year-old Nigerian, Joel Adesina.
Adesina was stabbed to death by unknown assailants in the Bethnal Green District of East London, England.
It was learnt that Adesina also played football for an English club – the Bardag U16 Yellows, Dagenham, England – apart from schooling.
Our correspondent learnt that the teenager, who played in the club’s right midfield, was killed on Friday, December 6, when he, along with some friends, was attacked by some hoodlums.
The London police told newsmen via an e-mail that Adesina, who was found with serious stab injuries to the abdomen, was rushed by the London Ambulance Service to an east London hospital where he eventually died on Saturday at about 2am.
In the e-mail sent to our correspondent and signed by an official, Tanya Clarke, the police in London added that three suspects – two men and a woman – had been arrested in connection with Adesina’s death.
Clarke said, “Two men, aged 24 and 23 years, were arrested on December 8 on suspicion of the murder and remain in custody at separate north London police stations. A 24-year-old woman was also arrested by detectives investigating the murder on December 9, but she has been bailed to a date in late January, 2015.
“The investigation continues and detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command continue to appeal for witnesses and information. Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed an altercation before the stabbing in Padbury Court, E2, between a group of male youths on foot and the occupants of a car. Joel was part of the group on foot.”
Our correspondent learnt that leading the investigation into Adesina’s murder is a Detective Chief Inspector, Chris Jones.
PUNCH Metro gathered that on the day of the incident, Adesina and some friends, who strolled out of their housing estate in Bethnal Green, were ambushed. The attackers reportedly pursued the teenagers, during which Adesina was stabbed in the stomach.
When our correspondent contacted the Nigeria High Commission office in London, a female official, who answered the call, confirmed the incident. She, however, added that it was the commission’s Welfare Department that could give details on such matter.
She said, “Yes, we learnt about the incident. Such issues are being handled by our welfare section in London here. I could have patched your call through to an officer there, but he is not around at the moment.”
Our correspondent gathered from the Bardag FC’s website that apart from Adesina, three other players in the club were also Nigerians.
The club Manager, Mr. Ricky Downes, who spoke with The Daily Mail, a United Kingdom medium, described Adesina as a young gentle boy, adding that the teenager was talented enough to play professionally.
He said, “To say that myself and the club are devastated is an understatement; we are absolutely in bits. Joel was a wonderful young lad who had the world at his feet. He was a very talented footballer and had ambitions of playing professionally. I think he had a future in the sport and could have played for a living.”
Efforts by our correspondent to reach Adesina’s family in London have not been successful as of press time.
The London police said they had given our correspondent’s contact to the teenager’s family, adding that the relatives would call if they wanted to comment on the matter.
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