Robbers kill man returning from vigil

 

A man returning from a vigil on Wednesday was shot and killed by suspected robbers at the Okekpa Community in Mowe, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State. Residents of the area, who identified the deceased as Mr. Taiwo, a block moulder, said the robbers were over 18.

 
Taiwo was killed by the robbers when he was returning from Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Isegun Ifeoluwapo Mowe, after a vigil. According to the residents, the robbery operation lasted three hours. Incidentally, the robbers had written the community that they would be coming to attack, but the residents never bargained it would be on that Wednesday.

When the robbers stormed the area, they tied up the security guards, before proceeding with the operation. Residents who did not have money at home were beaten black and blue.
A lady who just had a baby was beaten until she lost consciousness because there was no money in the house and her husband was not around. A resident said: “In fact, I’ve never seen such a robbery before!

 
The robbers were fully armed with guns, saw blade and pincers which they used to cut through burglaries.” One Mr. Kenneth said the bandits threatened to kill him if he did not quickly unlock his door.
When he eventually did, they slapped him three times. Mr. Uche, another resident, said: “It started around 1: am. I heard several gunshots. I started praying until 4:30am. Suddenly the gunshots stopped. When it was day break, we saw the body of a man. He was a block moulder called Taiwo.” When contacted, the pastor of the church, Pastor Ezekiel Oladedeji confirmed Taiwo’s death. Oladedeji said: “Taiwo just left the church after our vigil programme; about hundred yards to the church premises, when he was shot. He had his Bible on him and yet they killed him.”

 
Oladedeji said he had immediately reported the matter to Mowe Police Station and within minutes, policemen were crawling all over the area. Mrs. Nnabugo, who thanked God that she was not attacked or robbed, added: “The robbers were about 18 men. They were armed with guns. They entered up to five compounds. They cut through doors that had iron protectors. They felt so comfortable during the operation which lasted over three hours.”
Nnabugo explained that the robbers wrote the community in August, threatening to storm the area. In the letter, the robbers had mentioned the tight security in the area, but apparently felt it would pose no problem for them.

 
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in charge of Mowe, Mr. Aliu Shabba, confirmed the attack, noting that his division received a distress call from one of the victims and had responded swiftly. He added that before police reached the area, the robbers had fled. Shabba confirmed the death of Taiwo, adding that he was shot at close range, with a locally-made pistol.
NEW TELEGRAPH