The family of late Nurudeen Olanose, who was killed during a ward election of the All Progressive Congress at AC Central Primary School, Agege, Lagos State, has asked the police to get to the roots of the murder.
Nurudeen was reportedly shot in the head during the ward election which held around 10am on Saturday.
UNCH Metro learnt that the election, which was to determine the Chairman of Ward A, Agege, was between a man, identified as Baba Ayi, and a woman known as Alhaja Kuku.
Our correspondents gathered that the election had held last week, but the results were cancelled and a new date announced.
It was also gathered that on May 13, 2018, the new date, the election, which started peacefully, took a tragic turn when some hoodlums, alleged to be cult members, invaded the venue with machetes and stones.
The police had reportedly shot tear gas canisters at the hoodlums but it did not deter them.
“After attacks on the police, the cops were said to have fired warning shots, but the hoodlums did not back off. Out of nowhere, a bullet hit the man and he fell,” a resident, Sani Ama, said.
The body was said to have been left on the road for over three hours before it was later taken away by the police.
The victim’s younger brother, Mutiu Olanose, who described the news as shocking, said the family had initially heard that the police killed him.
“Later, we heard at the police station that it was someone from the opposition within the party that shot him. But whoever it is, I believe the person should not go unpunished,” he added.
The third wife of the deceased, Keji Olanose, said only justice would assuage the pain caused by the death.
She said, “When I heard about the crisis, I instructed my children not to go out. When I went out, I met one of his (Nurudeen) elder brothers crying. I asked him what was wrong, but he didn’t answer me. I went to the venue of the primary, but I did not see anybody; I only saw broken bottles on the floor.
“I saw his shoes, but was still in doubt as people said the police carried away a corpse from the place. I tried his telephone number, but it didn’t go through. Later, I confirmed that he had been killed; I am still in shock. I demand justice for the death of my husband.”
The deceased’s daughter, Tolani, said, “Now that my father is dead, we have nobody to look up to. My siblings and I are still young and in school. We want the government to come to our aid and we want justice for our father.”
Our correspondents gathered that late Nurudeen, who was survived by three wives and six children, was a dealer in tyres.
PUNCH Metro learnt the family had yet to locate the corpse
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, said the killing had nothing to do with the congress.
He noted that three suspects involved in the murder had been arrested and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.
He said, “The congress held at AC Central Primary School, Oniwaya. And it was successful. All those accredited did their business and returned home without any incident. The police provided security.
“However, the man that was killed was shot out of the congress venue. The good thing is that those who allegedly killed the man have been arrested and transferred to the Homicide Section, SCIID, where they are being investigated.”
Meanwhile, leaders of the APC in the Agege Federal Constituency have called for investigations into the circumstances that led to the killing of Nurudeen.
The party leaders, led by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, in a statement on Sunday, decried the killing.
The Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Alhaji Ganiyu Egunjobi, according to the statement, said the congress had been successfully concluded before supporters and thugs loyal to a House of Assembly aspirant in the area unleashed terror on the people.
The Lagos Assembly Speaker also said, “It is the inordinate ambition of one man that caused the violence. The police should do the needful by not only investigating the death of Olanose, but also ensuring that those found culpable are brought to book.”
PUNCH