Gunmen kill Ogun vigilance leader in church

IT was bloody yesterday at a church in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State where unknown gunmen killed a 69-year-old man.

Gunmen

Chief Tola Okuneye, a.k.a Ajagajigi, was seated during the service at St. John Anglican Church, Oke-Sopen, in the accient town when five gunmen, who rode in vehicles painted in Lagos commercial yellow colour, stormed the church and shot him. At about 11a.m.

The gunmen pretended to be worshippers.When they saw Okuneye, Chairman of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, they shot him in the head and chest. He died on the spot.

There was confusion within and outside the church. Gunshots rang out repeatedly. “Many were injured in the ensuing stampede,” a witness said.

The assailants fled the scene without taking anything away. Okuneye’s body was deposited at a mortuary in Ijebu-Igbo.

“The killers struck at the time Rev. Oke was about to mount the pulpit. The young men walked into the church hall and headed straight for where the late Okuneye sat, brought their guns and fired him at close range, a witness recalled.

One of the church leaders, Mr Kole Okunaiya, tried to challenge the gunmen, demanding what they were looking for, but the attempt was rebuffed.

“There was confusion when gunshots began to sound. We were shocked and everybody was jittery. The service came to an end abruptly. Some people, especially the elder are still in shock as I am talking to you now,” said a witness.

“Okuneye was well known in the town and neighbouring towns. He was among the earliest artisans in the business of furniture making in Ijebu,” the witness added.

Police Commissioner Ikemefuna Okoye said police were aware of the killing. “No arrest has been made yet but we are investigating.”

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun assured that government would do its best to get Okuneye’s killers.

Amosun spoke during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased and the scene of the killing in Ijebu-Igbo.

‘’The heinous manner with which the life of a good citizen who had invested in security was terminated is uncalled for.

‘’I don’t know why men of the underworld will terminate the life of a man who will not hurt a fly. They even went as far as carrying out the dastardly act in the sacred house of God.

‘’This was a man who did his best on security of lives and property as a way of serving humanity. As a government, we will do out best to ensure that the perpetrators of this act are brought to justice’’, Amosun said.

The governor was accompanied by Police Commissioner Okoye, Director of State Security Service, Mr. S. Charanchi, and members of his cabinet. He condoled with the Okuneye family and grant the son of the deceased, Gbenga Okuneye, and Presiding Bishop, St John’s Anglican Church, Oke-Sopein, Ijebu-Igbo, Rt. Rev. Gbetogo Kuponu, thanked the governor and security chiefs for their concern, praying that the present administration in the state would achieve all its dreams and aspirations.

Gunmen kill Ogun vigilance leader in church