Quaham Babatunde, an asylum seeker, died in Dublin after being stabbed following a nightclub argument over seats.
Friends say Babatunde was in the wrong place. He arrived at the club around 1 AM. Two groups argued over seating inside the club, but friends say Babatunde was not involved at first.
A friend said it was the wrong time for him, explaining that Babatunde wasn’t there when the groups fought initially, but arrived later and was tragically stabbed. The seating issue escalated into a bigger argument.
The seat argument escalated quickly, and a masked man appeared in the street with a large knife. Video showed him attacking people. Babatunde seemed to be a bystander during the attack but was stabbed in the chest and died.
Another man was also stabbed but survived with non-life-threatening injuries. A friend said Babatunde lived in Italy and had no family in Ireland, but many people cared for him.
A friend described Babatunde as a caring person who often stopped fights. The friend noted he looked surprised and that Babatunde helped many people, who affectionately called him “Big Bro.”
He wanted a security job and had already taken the exam. He was building his life; now, his life is gone.
Police made arrests related to the murder. Police in Belfast arrested someone about to board a ferry to Liverpool, believing he was fleeing.
Dublin police alerted the Belfast police. Dublin police also arrested a second person, who they are questioning at Pearse Street Garda station. Babatunde was from Nigeria and stabbed by a masked man after a reported row between two groups after a gig.
The Justice Minister called the violence “disgusting” and “unacceptable,” vowing to bring those involved to justice and expressing confidence that they will be tracked down.
The Minister saw the video circulating online and added that knives and street violence are wrong and not acceptable in Ireland.
He emphasized that you cannot carry knives here and expressed his desire to prevent Ireland from becoming a dangerous place. He mentioned the fight started in a club before escalating to the street and resulting in violence.
The Gardai have good CCTV footage of the crime.