Suspected assailant, Thursday, gunned down the Chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Ward 15, Isaga/Ilewo-Orile in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Muhammed Oke.

Oke, a community and religious leader and renowned farmer within the community, it was gathered, was a unifying factor as he was said to have stabilized trade and agriculture in the community that was sometimes ravaged by kidnapping.

A prince of Isaga Orile, HorizonTimes gathered, has been leading an onslaught against kidnappers and killer herdsmen in the community for more than a year.

It was gathered that the slain Oke, had mobilized a vigilance and hunter groups to repel kidnappers who had crippled both commercial and farming activities within the community.

He was said to have been successful in the mission such that a market which was said to have been closed for long due to the fear of kidnappers was reopened after his groups took over the security of the area.

A source who is familiar with the incident told HorizonTimes that the deceased received a distress call around 8am on Thursday that a group of kidnappers were operating around Olowo village along Isaga Orile.

He was said to have mobilized some of his men to the scene on a rescue mission, only for him to be ambushed, on getting to the reported scene, by the assailants who had waited for the team in the nearby bush.

On getting to the scene and nothing was seen on ground contrary to the distress call he received, Oke was said to have called the number which earlier put the distress call across to him, only for the assailants to emerge from behind.

The source who craved anonymity because of the sensitivity of the incident informed HorizonTimes that Oke made attempt to escape from the scene but fell on the ground where the assailants shot him at a close range.

One of the two other members of his team who accompanied him to the scene was also reportedly shot at but escaped with gun wounds, while the third person reportedly escaped unhurt.

Picture of the lifeless body of the deceased obtained by HorizonTimes showed injuries which appear like a matchete cuts on his two hands, head and upper right arm.

 

The source said, “He has been leading a vigilante and hunter group in the community since they started having issues of kidnapping about a year ago.

“On Thursday, he received a call around 8am that Fulani kidnappers were around Isaga Orile, he called two other members of his group to the scene, because that has become a routine exercise for him.

“On getting t the scene, he started calling the number which called him initially, as he was receiving the call, the assailants emerged from behind and cocked their guns.

“Oke wanted to escape from the ambush, likewise the two other persons, but he fell down and was shot at at close range, he died on the spot.

“The other person was hit by bullet and currently receiving treatment in a hospital, while the third person escaped unhurt.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident, saying the matter is under investigation by the police.

“Yes, we are fully aware. In fact, the CP has detailed the State Criminal Investigation Department to commence an investigation into the incident, and a good thing is that we have eye witnesses on the incident, we have commenced investigation into the matter,” he said.