News

August 12, 2018

Gunmen kill Ex-Governor Oni’s PA, two others in Ekiti

Gunmen kill Ex-Governor Oni’s  PA, two  others in Ekiti

Police

By Rotimi Ojomoyela, Ado-Ekiti

Unknown assailants have snuffed the life out of  a  former  Personal Assistant to erstwhile Governor Segun Oni and two yet to be identified victims in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State  capital.

police

It was gathered that Mr Bunmi Ojo, who until recently, was a Commissioner on the Board  of the Federal Character Commission(FCC), was shot by gunmen at about 10 pm  on Friday at a viewing centre in Adebayo Area, along Iworoko Road in the state capital.

The identity of the two other victims were  yet to be ascertained at the time of this report.

A source revealed that Ojo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) had gone in company of some of his political  friends to the centre before tragedy struck.

He said that six   gun-wielding men invaded the centre and killed  the victims during a sporadic shooting.

Ojo, who was reportedly shot in the head and stomach, was said to have been brought in dead to the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti where his body was immediately deposited  at the morgue.

The tragic incident has thrown the camp of Oni in the APC into mourning and confusion, as many are beginning to read political meaning to the gruesome murder of a staunch loyalist of the former governor.

A  source in the  camp revealed that Ojo was gearing to contest  for an elective office ahead of 2019, saying he had  intention  to vie  for  election into the  House of Representatives in Ekiti North Federal Constituency II.

The Federal Constituency comprises Ido/Osi, Ilejemeje and Moba local governments.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, could not be reached to confirm the killing as several calls to his phone by our correspondent were not answered.

However, the Media Office of Ekiti State Governor-Elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has commiserated with the family of the deceased.

In a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, Wole Olujobi, Fayemi expressed shock and sadness over the  murder, saying the killing was a sad commentary that shattered the relative peace the state had enjoyed after the July 14 governorship poll.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State government, yesterday, charged the police and other security agencies to fish out the killers of  Ojo and bring them to justice.

In a statement by the Special Assistant to Governor Ayo Fayose on Public Communications and News Media, Lere Olayinka, the  government condoled with the families, friends and political associates  of the deceased, praying that God in His infinite mercies will  console and uphold his wife and children.