Metro

Police Arrest Osun Prince Over Killing Of US-based Lecturer

Published

4 months ago

January 28, 2024

Editor

The Osun State Police Command said it has arrested an Oyo prince, Eniola Oyeyode, in connection to the killing of a United States American-based lecturer, Richard Idowu.

Idowu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party was shot at Oyeyode’s residence on Saturday evening and he died while receiving treatment in a private hospital in the Ejigbo area of the state.

A security source close to the Osun State Police Command who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The PUNCH that Oyeyode was moved from Ejigbo to Osogbo on Sunday.

Also, the spokesperson for the state police command, Yemisi Opalola, in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Sunday, confirmed the arrest of Oyeyode.

Opalola said, “The Osun Police Command is using this medium to inform the general public that the command is aware of the incident of shooting that occurred at Ejigbo which led to the death of one Dr. Richard Adeoriokin.

“The incident occurred on 27/1/2024 at about 9:48 pm after the 50th Coronation Anniversary of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Oyeyode Oyesosin where one Prince Eniola Oyeyode ‘m’ of Ejigbo instructed one of his civilian guards named Hammed Abdul Jelili ‘m’ of Ejigbo to fire his double barrel gun into the air to confirm if the gun was in good condition or not, but instead shot directly at the victim. He was rushed to a hospital where he was confirmed dead by a doctor.

“Meanwhile, the prince, Eniola Oyeyode, who gave the order to his civilian guard to fire guns have been arrested and detained.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Bzigu Dali Kwazhi, therefore, appeals to members of the public especially the residents of Ejigbo to remain calm as the discreet investigation has commenced immediately.”

Idowu was shot dead in Ejigbo, Osun State on Saturday.

The incident threw the community into mourning and led to tension among the residents.

An investigation by our correspondent revealed that the incident occurred in a private residence of Oyeyode, a son to the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode, who was marking his 50th anniversary on the throne.

It was also learnt that Idowu was part of the coronation anniversary, from where he was summoned to a meeting in the residence of Oyeyode located along Inisa Road in Ejigbo.

An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, while speaking with PUNCH Online on Sunday on the matter, said at the meeting was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Ayodele Asalu and one other person identified as Mr. Timothy.

After the meeting had ended and the attendees were leaving the premises, the eyewitness said gunshots were heard and Idowu was hit on the leg which led to his death while being treated in a private hospital in Ejigbo.

Narrating how the incident happened, a Personal Assistant to the deceased, Afiz Lawal, who said, the incident happened in his presence further explained, “When we returned to Osun from Ogun State where Governor Adeleke took a chieftaincy title, we moved to Ejigbo for 50th coronation anniversary of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Oyeyode Oyesosin.

“Immediately after the coronation party, we were about to start coming to Osogbo, when Prince Eniola, son of Ogiyan, told us to go to his house along Inisa Road in Ejigbo for a brief meeting. Those that attended the meeting include Hon. Asler ( Ayodele Asalu), and one Hon Timothy.

“When the meeting ended, they all dispersed and were entering their vehicles. I heard Prince Eniola say, ‘release,’ asking a local hunter there on the premises to release gunshots into the air. Unfortunately, instead of firing into the air, he shot towards the ground. And that was how Richard Idowu was hit on the leg and he immediately fell.

“Before we could get him to the hospital, he had already lost so much blood and there is no good hospital in Ejigbo. He gave up at a private hospital in Ejigbo. The incident happened between 8pm and 8.30 pm Saturday. He was a PDP chieftain and a lecturer based in the United States of America.”

Asked if the incident could be regarded as a case of misfiring or preplanned, Lawal said, “It may be planned or accidental, but I just narrated how the incident happened because I was at the scene. His remains have been deposited at the morgue of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.”

It was also learnt that the man who fired the shot was beaten to death after the incident.

While speaking with The PUNCH, the Commander of Osun Command of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, the group also known as local hunters, Ahmed Nureni, said no member of the group was involved in the incident, demanding a thorough probe into the killing.

Metro

Suspected Kidnapper Dies After Gun Battle With Police In Delta

Published

8 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

A leader of a kidnap syndicate, Joel Joseph has been reported killed.

He died after a gun battle with the Police Special Squad in Inene Community, Ughelli North Local Government Area.

The Police also recovered from the deceased suspect, one AK47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of live ammunition.

According to Daily Post, the suspect died at the General Hospital, Ughelli where he was taken for treatment after the encounter.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe confirmed the report in a statement signed and made available to newsmen.

He said the suspect who is a native of Ekakpamre Community in Ughelli North LGA opened fire on the police operatives upon sighting them.

According to SP Edafe, “In the ensuing gun duel, the suspect sustained serious gunshot injuries and was taken to the General Hospital Ughelli where he died while receiving treatment.”

He said, “Efforts are being intensified to arrest other gang members as contained in the intel.”

Metro

Fear In Anambra Community Over Missing 19 Rifles

Published

20 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

Fears and concerns have heightened over the disappearance of about 19 pump action guns reportedly donated to the local vigilante security team in the Awada community in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The PUNCH gathered that the whereabouts of the guns became unknown during the handing over of the community’s security equipment to a newly engaged security outfit.

The development caused a mild drama at the community town hall on Sunday, when the community leaders, led by its newly-elected President-General, Patrick Oyeduba, and the executive members, discovered that out of the 27 pump action guns donated to the outgoing local vigilante, only eight were handed over, while the remaining 19 could not be accounted for.

The handing over of the security items, including the pump action guns, vehicles, motorcycles and other security gadgets was supervised by the police team from the Area Commander in Ogidi led by the leader of the patrol team, Inspector Hyginus Giwonke.

Members of the community had in April, elected new executive members of the landlord association of the area, where Oyeduba emerged as the new President-General of the Awada Landlord Association.

Oyeduba, who spoke to journalists at the end of the handover, said the change of community leadership necessitated a total overhaul in the security architecture in the area to fortify security in the area.

He said, “Today, our community is changing its security architecture and personnel. A new security outfit under the Nigeria Police Community Policing led by Commander Jude Akachukwu has taken over today.

“This development became necessary because we want to fortify the security in the area by bringing in new personnel who will be loyal to the new leadership of the community.

“In the past, we had lots of security concerns even though we had the local vigilante security team in place. In the last dispensation, the community witnessed many reported cases of stealing, kidnapping, burglary, armed robberies and attacks carried out by hoodlums around the community. This shows that the security on the ground then was not active and it became necessary for us as the new leadership to make the required change.

“The former security team did not live up to expectations and there are fears they might not be loyal to the new leadership, hence the need to change and overhaul the security apparatus of the community. With this development, there is a new dawn for the Awada community in terms of security as the people can now sleep with their two eyes closed.”

Oyeduba, while lamenting over the missing guns, said an official report would be made about the worrisome development.

Earlier, while advising the new security team, the Inspector from the Ogidi Area Command, Giwonke, who supervised the handover, told the personnel to ensure they were security conscious at all times.

The commander of the new security team, Jude Ukachukwu, assured the community of adequate security of lives and property.

“We will ensure that the people of Awada are well protected. We are also using this opportunity to fire a warning to the hoodlums disturbing the community’s peace because there would not be a hiding place for any criminal elements and criminalities in Awada anymore,” he added.

Metro

Police Rescue Two Toddlers Locked Up in Lagos Apartment

Published

20 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has rescued two infants who were locked up in an apartment on Adelakun Street, in the Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State.

The toddlers, The PUNCH gathered, were found in a state of neglect when the rescue operation took place.

A rights group, Advocate for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, alleged that the mother of the infants had been grappling with substance abuse.

The Chief Operating Officer of the group, Ebenezer Omejalile, who disclosed this to our correspondent on Sunday, said the residents in the area alerted the group to the development.

He said, “According to the informants, the mother, purportedly struggling with substance abuse issues, would lock her children inside their apartment and remain absent for the entirety of the day.

“These two minors were left to fend for themselves. They eat, defecate, sleep and wake up locked up in the room yet nothing was being done. The DPO of the Red House Police Station was duly informed about it and the infants were rescued.”

In a video watched by our correspondent, one of the infants could be seen crying in the locked-up apartment. In a separate video, the children were seen eating after the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, Omejalile said it was the second time the police would rescue the toddlers in such a situation.

According to him, the rescue operation was carried out by the former Divisional Police Officer but the children were returned to their mother after being placed under the care of government authorities.

READ ALSO: Gunmen Kidnap A’Ibom Monarch

He said, “The incident was initially reported at the same police station several months ago. The then DPO promptly responded to the distress call and rescued the babies from their mother’s custody.

“Shockingly, despite the initial intervention by law enforcement, it has come to light that the children were subsequently returned to their mother’s care. This decision has left many baffled, including the former DPO who ensured the babies were placed under the care of government agencies.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development.

He said, “The children were rescued. They are now in safe hands.”