•Fulani attacks: Gov Suswan’s security adviser, 9 others killed
It was an ugly scenario at No 67, Ifelodun Street, Akingbala area, in Obatanko of Abeokuta, on Thursday morning, as a police corporal, identified as Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi, was said to have run berserk and shot dead his wife, Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi.
The deceased officer was also said to have killed a commercial motorcycle rider, identified as Kunle, a landlady, simply identified as Iya Basirat, landlady’s children, Basirat, Taofeek, a Senior Secondary School two students of Nawar-u-Deen Grammar School, Obantoko and his brother, Sikiru, landlady’s granddaughter, Kaosarat and one other person, while three other persons are lying critically injured at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, for medical attention.
The deceased policeman, until his death,was reported to have been attached to the Mobile Police Unit at the Command’s headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
An eyewitness, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune, on condition of anonymity, said that the policeman perpetrated the act, shortly after his return from night duty. He was said to have stormed the premises at about 7.02am and opened fire on his wife and the family of five for allegedly harbouring his wife and his two children. He was also said to have opened fire on the commercial motorcyclist that took him to the area.
The eyewitness said that the policeman and his late wife had a misunderstanding, which made her to move out of her matrimonial home to Mama Basirat’s residence. He said that the police corporal had in the past warned Iya Basirat from harbouring his wife whenever they had any misunderstanding.
The rampaging police corporal, it was learnt, had laid ambush for his victims in a nearby bush, before carrying out the dastardly act. He was said to have shot at his wife who was on her way to work in front of the six-room uncompleted building, while his two children dressed in school uniform were not touched.
He went straight into the building where he immediately opened fire and killed the landlady who had yet to get up from the mat she was sleeping on.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, had paid an on the spot assessment to the scene of the ugly incident.
This was contained in a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi.
Adejobi said that the Command had already commenced a thorough forensic investigation into the killing, stressing the command’s determination to ensure justice was done in the matter.
“The Ogun State Police Command has deemed it necessary to react to the killing of six persons by a police Corporal Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi attached to the Ogun State Police Command.
“The unfortunate incident occurred this morning, Thursday 27th March, 2014 at 0758hrs when the said corporal, who had been having domestic conflicts with his wife, shot and killed six persons, with his rifle, including his wife, Woman Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, the landlady in the house, a two-year-old baby girl and two males and one female, while another three persons sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta. The said corporal, having killed these persons, shot himself dead immediately.
“The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, CP Ikemefuna Okoye, has described the incident as unfortunate; and has visited the scene with other senior police officers in the command to assess the situation and sympathise with the relations of the deceased and members of the Akingbala Ifelodun Estate, Eleweran Area, Abeokuta, where the incident took place.
“The Command has therefore commenced thorough forensic investigation into the killing and promised to make sure justice is done in the matter.
“The commissioner of police, however, appeals to the general public to perceive the incident as one of the unfortunate social mishaps and not to judge the police with the incident, as the police are committed to protection of lives and property and will not tolerate any act capable of trampling on fundamental human rights of the citizens of Ogun State,” he said.
Benue gov’s aide on security killed
The people of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State had a sleepless night on Wednesday following the fresh attack that took place in Tongov clan of the area.
The General Officer Commanding the Tiv militia group, O. Orwamga, and nine others have been reported killed during attacks by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State.
Seven others have also been declared missing following the attacks.
Orwamga, the coordinator of the Tiv militia group in charge of the Benue-Nasarawa Border Patrol, popularly called Soja Patali, was also the Liaison Officer to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Security Matters.
Sources confirmed to The Eagle Online that Orwamga and four others were captured in a village near Ukpam in Guma Local Government Area by heavily armed Fulani marauders on Wednesday.
The Eagle Online reported that those missing was a source of concern for citizens of the state, which prompted the youth to embark on a rescue mission.
It was in the process of the recue mission that the bodies of the dead were discovered on Thursday morning.
Source: Tribune
