By Aderemi Bamgbose
A legal practitioner, Mr Bayo Akin Akinsola, on behalf of Ogundipe family of Okunmo town in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, called on the police to investigate the killing of one Femi Ogundipe and the assault on two others by suspected assailants.
Akinsola, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police on Monday, said that the 36-year-old bricklayer was murdered on February 12, 2020, in Okunmo town, on the Okitipupa-Igbokoda expressway, Ondo State.
He said that the police should equally investigate the attempted murder of two other persons, who he identified as farmers – Kunle Ogundipe and Kolawole Ogundipe, also by the assailants.
The lawyer said that the suspected assassin and his gang allegedly opened fire, while protecting their master over a land dispute in Okunmo village.
He said that Femi was hit by the bullet from one of the gunshots fired by the gang members.
Akinsola further said that after the murder, another member of the family, Kunle and Kolawole, were attacked, thus sustaining varying degree of injuries.
He said that the case was reported at the Okitipupa divisional police headquarters, after which the police went to the assailants’ house, adding, however, that they had eloped to unknown destination.
“On February 12, 2020, the suspected thugs moved to Okunmo town and opened fire on Femi Ogundipe.
“The suspects, who had a dispute over a landed property belonging to the Okunmo family, also attempted to kill Kunle and Kolawole Ogundipe through machetes and they sustained varying degree of injuries.
“It is sad that those who masterminded the murder and attack were at large and have yet to be apprehended.
“We deem it proper to channel our demands to you (the police) in ensuring the nation is rid of criminals and criminal elements,’’ he said in the letter.
Akinsola urged the police to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice.
“The death of the victim should not be allowed to be in vain, because he left a wife, two children and aged parents behind,’’ the lawyer said.
However, CSP Femi Joseph, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ondo Police Command, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone that investigation was ongoing on the matter.
Joseph said that efforts were being made to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime, who were currently on the run.
“Normalcy has returned to the town but we are still on trail of the suspects who eloped immediately after committing the acts. We will definitely get them’’, Joseph assured.
NAN reports that the state Police Commissioner, Mr Undie Adie, Sen. Nicholas Tofowomo, representing Ondo South senatorial district in the National Assembly, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and others were copied in the petition submitted to the Inspector General of Police.
Credit: NAN
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