A 40-year-old phone engineer, identified as Mr Stanley Atanagbe, has died after he was allegedly headbutted and pushed to the ground while attempting to separate two apprentices fighting at Fayose Market, a phone repair hub in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The incident reportedly occurred around 11 a.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026, The Whistler gathered.
According to accounts of the incident, the dispute began when two apprentices, one working under Stanley and the other an Igbo apprentice, engaged in a physical confrontation that left Stanley’s apprentice with a broken finger.
The State Chairman of the Phone Engineers Association subsequently intervened in an attempt to resolve the dispute amicably, a source told THE WHISTLER.
However, Stanley’s apprentice allegedly threatened to confront the other apprentice again if his injured finger did not heal within one week.
After the one-week period elapsed, Stanley’s apprentice reportedly returned and seized the other apprentice’s neck bead, triggering another confrontation.
The other apprentice subsequently summoned his brothers and associates, including some from Adebayo and other parts of the market.
When the group arrived at the scene, they allegedly attacked Stanley’s apprentice, prompting the phone engineer to intervene in an attempt to stop the violence.
However, while trying to separate those involved in the fight, one of the boys allegedly headbutted and pushed Stanley, causing him to fall and hit his head on the ground.
“There was a fight between two apprentices. One is the apprentice of Mr. Stanley, and the other is an Igbo apprentice. During the fight, Stanley’s apprentice sustained a broken finger.
“The State Chairman of the Phone Engineers Association intervened and tried to settle the matter amicably. However, Stanley’s apprentice threatened the other apprentice that if his finger did not heal within one week, he would come back for him.
“After one week, Stanley’s apprentice returned and seized the other apprentice’s neck bead.
“In response, the Igbo apprentice called his brothers, including one from Adebayo and others from across the market. When they arrived, they collectively started beating Stanley’s apprentice. Mr. Stanley himself came to intervene and separate the fight.
“During the process of intervention, one of the Igbo boys gave Mr. Stanley a headbutt and pushed him. Mr. Stanley fell down and hit his head on the floor,” the source told THE WHISTLER.
However, he was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment but reportedly died before daybreak.
His remains have since been deposited at the mortuary of the State Hospital in Ado-Ekiti, The Whistler gathered.
Meanwhile, at least four people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the incident, while another suspect is said to be at large.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Ekiti State Police Command were unsuccessful as its Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, did not answer calls placed to his telephone as of the time of filing this report.
