Ikire Killings: Police Say Suspects Used Stolen AK-47 to Kill Two

The Osun State Police Command has said the suspected hoodlums who attacked its personnel and snatched an AK-47 service rifle in Ikire on Monday used the stolen weapon to kill two civilians.

The victims were identified as 49-year-old Nurení Sobowale of Odeda Area, Abeokuta, and 43-year-old Saheed Akinrole of Adeagbo Compound, Ikire.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, adding that two police officers sustained serious injuries during the attack.

According to the police, the assailants also forcefully took away a patrol vehicle attached to the Ikire Division before abandoning it.

The vehicle was later recovered with multiple bullet holes and a destroyed windscreen, while nine expended ammunition shells found at the scene were secured for forensic analysis.

“It was later abandoned and subsequently recovered with multiple bullet holes and a destroyed windscreen. Nine expended ammunition shells were recovered at the scene of the incident and have been secured for forensic analysis.

“The remains of the two deceased civilians have been deposited at Oluyoro Catholic Mortuary, and their families have been duly notified. The injured police officers were initially taken to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment and have since been referred to the University College Hospital, Ibadan, for advanced medical care,” the statement read.

The command said the incident occurred around 11am on Monday along the Ibadan–Ife Expressway when unidentified assailants suspected to be political thugs attacked a police patrol team attached to the Ikire Division.

The patrol team, accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer of the division, was responding to a distress call over the alleged abduction of a man identified as Sunkanmi.

“The patrol team, accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer of Ikire Division, was responding to a distress call regarding the alleged abduction of one Sunkanmi, male, surname unknown. Upon arrival at the location, the officers came under sudden and unprovoked attack by a group of unidentified hoodlums.

“The assailants opened fire on the police officers while they were inside their operational vehicle and succeeded in snatching one AK-47 service rifle. The hoodlums used the stolen weapon to fire indiscriminately, resulting in the tragic loss of two innocent civilians.”

The newly deployed Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and directed a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

He ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to lead the investigation and directed the immediate deployment of tactical and intelligence assets to the area.

The command said the deployment was aimed at identifying, tracking and apprehending the perpetrators.

It condemned what it described as an “unprovoked attack on police personnel and the senseless loss of innocent lives”, while urging residents to remain calm and vigilant.

The police also appealed to anyone with credible information that could assist in apprehending the suspects to report to the nearest police station or contact the command.

The command assured residents that necessary measures were being taken to restore and maintain security along the affected axis and across the state.

The police account followed reports of violence at Naira and Kobo Junction motor park in Ikire, where two people were reportedly killed amid an alleged attempt to take over the park.

The PUNCH reported that drivers allegedly loyal to the All Progressives Congress had been controlling the park before some drivers said to be members of the Accord Party arrived at about 10:30am and allegedly attempted to take over the park.

Videos and photographs from the scene showed two men lying in pools of blood, with one appearing to have sustained a serious head injury.

The police have, however, said the two civilians were killed after the suspected attackers used the AK-47 rifle snatched from its personnel to fire indiscriminately.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged attempt to take over the motor park and the identities of the perpetrators remain under investigation.

Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE

koikimedia Bringing the World 🌎 Closer to Your Doorstep