Lagos ‘bird woman’ dies in hospital

| credits: Photo: Olaleye Aluko

A middle-aged woman who caused a stir at Cappa Bus Stop, Oshodi Lagos on Friday, after being accused of witchcraft, has died.

We learnt that the woman, who was badly burnt, was accused of transforming from a bird into a human being.

Some eyewitnesses claimed the woman had fallen as a ‘bird’ from the cable, and confessed to have some metaphysical powers.

Although policemen from the Mushin Division, Olosan were later said to have taken the woman away, she was already unconscious before arriving at the hospital.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, while confirming her death, said the woman’s corpse had been deposited at a morgue.

He said, “Eyewitnesses said there was a bird which fell down and turned into a woman. So, a large crowd gathered round her. She was not attacked. Eventually, when the police got there, they rescued the woman from the surging crowd. But unfortunately, she died, and her body has been deposited at the Mainland General Hospital’s morgue.”

When our correspondent visited the area, a policeman at the junction said the woman was coming from the Agbado Ijaiye area of Lagos, and heading for her husband’s residence in Mushin.

It was learnt from eyewitnesses that a bird had been seen flying around the area, and had hit a high tension cable and landed on the ground.

One Mr. Sowoloa, who claimed to be an eyewitness, said the passersby formed a crowd around the bird which reportedly turned into a woman, and busied themselves with taking her photographs.

He said, “It was at 12 in the afternoon. I was also at the bus stop with friends. We saw one of the birds hit a high-tension cable. It shrieked and landed on the ground. Before we took any notice, it was a badly burnt woman we saw.

“It is unbelievable but it is true. When we spoke to the woman, she claimed to have some magical powers, and had killed several people. She added that she was returning to her husband’s house in Mushin before the incident. So, some people started taking her photographs.”