By Peter Ayoade
Three people have reportedly killed in Igboora, Oyo State as some suspected kidnappers struck near Subawah Oil Filling Station, along Idere Road in Igboora, Ibarapa area of Oyo State on Saturday.
Two nine-year-old cousins were said to have been killed in the incident while the mother to one of them was said to have been hit by a stray bullets.
The Chief Executive Officer of the filling station, Mrs. Sherifat Adisa, who was allegedly abducted and whisked away to an unknown destination, was later found dead on Sunday.
Her corpse was said to have been found along the bushpath on Sunday morning.
A resident of the community said those killed were hit by stray bullets fired by the hoodlums while trying to escape with the business woman.
According to him, he said, “The unfortunate incident ocoured around 7:20 pm on Saturday, January 2. Road users and those in the neighbourhood scampered for safety as the hoodlums shot sporadically into the air.
“The woman and two children were on their way from igboora to idere when the commercial motorcycle rider who was conveying them dropped them by the roadside to buy fuel at the filling station.
“In the process, they were hit by stray bullets. The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.”
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, Fadeyi Olugbenga, read in part, “The attention of the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, have been drawn to the two incidents that happened at Idere in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area where a business woman and two 9-year-old cousins were killed by unknown gunmen.
“The CP wishes to state that in the incident of murder at Idere where three persons were killed, some suspects have been arrested through collaborative efforts of the Police and other local security and that investigation has commenced and the outcome will be made public in due time.
“Furthermore, intensive manhunt is still ongoing around the area to arrest other fleeing suspects and at the same time massive deployment emplaced to restore confidence to the community in particular and the whole Ibarapa axis in general.”
Making reference to another incident where a man simply identified as Dr. Akindele was abducted in Tapa, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State on January 2, the statement read, “The abduction of Dr. Akindele in his hospital, though not officially reported to the Divisional Police headquarters in Ayete as stated by the Divisional Police Officer, was an issue of concern.
“Nonetheless, he (the CP) reiterates his commitment to rejig the security architecture of the area. Concerted efforts have been put in place to protect lives and property in Ibarapa axis in particular and the whole Oyo State in general.”
