Residents of Eru Oloja, Simawa community in the Mowe area of Ogun State have protested the killing of a man, Oluwaseun Adebayo, near the community school by gunmen who were suspected cultists.
PUNCH Metro learnt that some landlords in the area, who thronged the Ogijo Police Division, demanded an immediate arrest of the suspects, who were identified as Eiye Confraternity members.
Our correspondent gathered that on Tuesday, July 7, at about 5.30pm, 32-year-old Adebayo, also known as Jafunrae, boarded a commercial motorcycle from Lotto, Mowe, and was heading for his house.
It was learnt that another commercial motocycle, conveying three men in black dresses, however, waylaid him.
The assailants, who were said to have trailed Adebayo from Lotto to Eru Oloja community, shot him in the head near a bush in the community primary school, and fled the area.
The victim died instantly.
Some of the aggrieved landlords, who accused the police of slow investigation into the case, reportedly headed for the police station, demanding that the cultists be apprehended.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, a landlord, who identified himself only as Baba Ijebu, said the killing, if not checked, could result in reprisals and turn the area into a battlefield for cultists.
He said, “We were shocked that cultists would kill a grown-up man in broad daylight in our area. The sound of gunshots caused confusion.
We do not know what the deceased and the attackers had in common, but why should they kill him in our area. We don’t want the other gang to invade our area and start killing our children. We want the police to intensify security in our area.”
Our correspondent learnt that Adebayo, whose family could not be contacted for comment as of the time of visit, was a factory worker. He was reportedly heading home when he was killed.
Another resident, who gave his name as Esa Oke, said the deceased’s body was left on the road till the following day, adding that schoolchildren saw it.
He said, “The man was shot dead beside the only primary school in our area. Imagine that it was school hours, one of our children could have been hit by stray bullets.
“If cultists are waylaying one another, let them know which area to go because we do not belong to any cult group in this area. The police should do their work, and let us live in peace.
“The man’s bloodstained body was on the road overnight, and our children were made to be seeing that gory sight. The deceased was said to be a member of the Aiye Confraternity.”
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the police had intensified patrol in the area, which led to the arrest of two suspects. He said the suspects would be charged to court on Wednesday (today).
He said, “The killing is true, but policemen in the area, led by the Divisional Police Officer, launched a raid on the cultists’ hideout, and arrested two suspected cultists.
“We have not established whether the two are responsible for the killing, but they will be charged to court for cultism on Wednesday. Patrols have also been intensified in the area.”
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