Gunmen kill Ogboni leader

Peter Dada, Akure

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested two persons in connection with the killing of a leader of the Ogboni Fraternity in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, Chief Stephen Akinkunmi.

Akinkunmi, who was described as a leader of the fraternity in the South-West, was allegedly killed on the premises of the Saint Stephen Hotel, Ore, on Thursday.

It was gathered that the deceased was shot dead after he refused to enter his car as ordered by the hoodlums.

After killing him, the hoodlums were alleged to have driven the vehicle out of the hotel premises to an unknown destination.

According to a source, some documents and other items, including about N2m, belonging to the deceased, were said to have been taken away by the assailants.

The brother of the deceased, Mr Joshua Akindele, said the gunmen had lodged in the hotel for three days before carrying out the operation.

The wife of the deceased, Toyin, appealed to the state government and security agents to protect the family as she had been receiving threat messages from unknown persons.

“Some people have been calling us on the telephone and threatening our lives; we want the security agencies to help arrest the perpetrators; we also want justice,” she stated.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Tee-Leo Ikoro, who confirmed the arrest of two suspects, said the command had begun investigation into the incident.

“We are after the perpetrators and we will ensure that they are brought to justice,’ Ikoro stated.