Suspected hoodlums on Sunday abducted and killed a doctor with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Thomas Adekoya-Cole, in the Itele area of Ijebu, Ogun State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that
60-year-old Adekoya-Cole, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with LUTH,
was murdered while in his hometown to attend a public function.
Our correspondent gathered that Adekoya-Cole was cut with matchets after some hoodlums attacked him around 7.30am on Sunday.
It was learnt that the matter was reported at the police Area Command, Ijebu, and the Igbeba Police Division.
Our correspondent gathered that the doctor was initially rushed to a private hospital in the area, where he was confirmed dead.
A source in Ijebu Ode told PUNCH Metro
that the hoodlums came to Akongi Street, in the Itele area of Ijebu,
where some traditional worshippers were holding rites and initially
hacked one of them, identified as Omotayo Ogunbowale, to death.
He added that in the ensuing pandemonium, the worshippers and other people present fled to their houses for safety.
It was, however, gathered that the hoodlums came again at about 7am on Sunday and killed Adekoya-Cole.
The source said, “There was a
traditional festival on Saturday, and Adekoya-Cole attended the event
from his base in Lagos. The rite was held on Akongi Street in
Itele-Ijebu and during the festival, some worshippers were attacked by
hoodlums and one Omotayo Ogunbowale was killed.
“On Sunday, the hoodlums came again,
abducted Adekoya-Cole from his house and hacked him to death. The matter
was reported at the Igbeba Police Division and to the Police Area
Command, also in Igbeba.”
Another source added that a clash had broken out among the worshippers, which led to the crisis and the killings.
He said, “Trouble started on Saturday
when a native doctor at the festival was abducted and killed by
suspected hoodlums. There was a clash among the worshippers. Everyone
fled to their houses. On Sunday, the LUTH doctor’s house in Itele was
stormed by hoodlums and he was later found with matchet injuries.
“He was rushed to a private hospital in Ijebu Ode, where he died.”
The Ogun State Police Public Relations
Officer, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the murders, said eight
suspects had been arrested in connection with both cases.
Adejobi added that the suspects would be
transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigations,
Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
He said, “On Saturday, Dr Adekoya-Cole
attended an Ogun ritual in the area, but a clash broke out. One of the
worshippers, Ogunbowale, was hacked to death. The doctor thereafter
returned to his house. However on Sunday around 7am, the hoodlums
attacked and killed him in his house.
“So, we are having two murder cases. The
police have arrested eight suspects in connection with the cases. We
are going to transfer the suspects to SDCI, Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun
State.
“The police are fully in charge. The doctor’s corpse has been removed to a mortuary in Ijebu Ode.”
The spokesperson for LUTH, Kelechi Otuneme, confirmed that Adekoya-Cole was one of their surgeons.
He added that the hospital had yet to officially release a statement.
He said, “Yes, he is one of our
consultant surgeons. We do not have an official statement yet. That
might be done on Monday. But we have heard the news.”
Punch Newspaper
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