The Osun State Police Command has detained the son of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Prince Eniola Oyeyode, in connection with the killing of the United States of America-based lecturer, Prof Richard Idowu.
The incident which occurred between 8:00 and 8:30pm on Saturday immediately threw the community into mourning and led to tension among the residents.
The incident occurred in a private residence of Prince Oyeyode, after a meeting he held with some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress from Ejigbo town.
An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, while speaking with our correspondent on Sunday on the matter, said after the meeting had ended and the attendees were leaving the premises, gunshots were fired allegedly on the instruction of Prince Oyeyode by one of his aides, which hit Idowu on the leg eventually leading 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 claimed the incident happened in his presence, further explained, “When we returned to Osun State from Ogun State where Governor Ademola Adeleke took a chieftaincy title, we moved to Ejigbo for the 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 to Ogiyan, told us to go to his house along Inisa Road in Ejigbo for a brief meeting. Those who 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 air. Unfortunately, instead of firing into the air, he shot towards the ground. And that was how Hon 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 8:00 and 8:30pm on 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 pre-planned murder, Lawal further 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 that hit Idowu attempted to flee the area, but was caught and shot dead by some aides attached to the deceased.
Giving an update on the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed Oyeyode’s arrest.
She said, “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 of Ejigbo instructed one of his civilian guards named Hammed Abdul Jelili to fire his double-barrelled gun into the air to confirm if the gun was in good condition or not.
“But instead, he allegedly shot directly at the victim and he was rushed to a hospital but confirmed dead by the doctor. Meanwhile, Prince Eniola Oyeyode who gave the order to his civilian guard to fire gun has been arrested and detained.”
Meanwhile, the Osun State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, after leading the state government officials on a condolence visit to the family of the deceased PDP chieftain in Ejigbo, told journalists that, “The interim report revealed that there are two causalities. The police have commenced a full investigation and we are awaiting the report of the investigation.
“We know the team from the governor are here to commiserate with the people of Ejigbo and the king. We appeal to the people to remain calm.”