Pandemonium broke out near the entrance of the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Ilobu, Osun State, on Sunday after a 14-year-old boy, Ezekiel Olapade, was allegedly shot dead by suspected hoodlums.
Another person sustained gunshot injuries during the attack and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon opposite the local government secretariat, near a palm wine joint owned by the deceased’s mother.
Eyewitnesses told NewsWatch Metro that the assailants, allegedly led by a notorious thug identified as Saheed, popularly known as “Tanfeani,” had gathered near the council secretariat and were attempting to enter the premises when they spotted a man wearing a cap in the colour of a particular political party at the palm wine joint.
According to sources, the armed men then advanced towards the spot, firing shots indiscriminately and causing patrons to flee for safety.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said Olapade was not the intended target of the attack.
He said, “We all ran in different directions. The boy who died was probably not the target of those hoodlums. They were about to enter the secretariat when they noticed someone wearing a cap in the colour of a political party at the palm wine joint opposite the council gate.
“We were all relaxing there when the incident happened. As soon as we saw the armed men advancing towards us, everybody started running. They were shooting in our direction. In the confusion, Ezekiel was hit by a bullet and died on the spot.
“The other man who was shot survived. He was the one wearing the political party-coloured cap. The deceased was the son of the owner of the drinking joint.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the suspected attackers were led by Saheed, alias Tanfeani.
“The incident happened this afternoon near the entrance of the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Ilobu,” Ojelabi said.
“One Saheed, also known as Tanfeani, came with other thugs and started shooting. In the process, a bullet hit Ezekiel Olapade, aged 14, and he died on the spot.
“Another person, whose identity is yet to be established, was also hit by a bullet and is currently receiving treatment in hospital.
“The prime suspect and his accomplices are still at large, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend them.”
The police said investigations into the attack had commenced.
