Gunmen suspected to be cultists on Saturday killed one Adeleke Adeyinka, a councillorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming local government election in Ogun State.
He was reportedly shot dead in broad daylight at Jide Jones area, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen arrived in a tinted car and one of them alighted, shot Adeyinka at a close range and subsequently smashed his head.
A 27-second clip, which has gone on the internet, showed the victim’s body in a pool of blood.
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A source said, “The killing happened around 2pm. It took everybody by surprise. No one knows if it is a cult-related attack or not. The people in the area are already locking their shops. Everywhere is tensed now. It is so sad.
“He was the candidate of APC for Ward 15, Abeokuta South LGA, in the November 16 council poll.”
The police spokesperson in the state, Omolola Odutola, said she was not aware of the incident as of the time of this report.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State All progressives Congress Youth Leaders’ Forum has condemned what it called senseless killing of the candidate and demanded an immediate investigation to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Kabir Odedairo, Youth Leader, Abeokuta South Local Government and Timothy Odedina, spokesman of the State Youth Leaders’ Forum.
“We strongly condemn this senseless and horrific act, which has left our community shaken and grieving. The fact that Adeleke was shot and stoned to death by unknown assailants in a tinted car is particularly disturbing and warrants immediate attention from law enforcement agencies.
“Adeleke was not only a promising young leader but also a dedicated member of our party, having served as the youth leader of Ward 15 in Abeokuta South and worked with others during the election.
“As a forum, we demand a thorough investigation into this heinous crime and call on the relevant authorities to ensure that justice is served. We also urge the police to increase patrols and security measures in the affected areas to prevent further violence,” the statement read.
