It was learnt that the
doctor was murdered over his alleged refusal to pay N50,000 land charges called
“owo ile”.
The hoodlums were said to
have demanded the money as “settlement” for the traditional Ogun festival held
in the town over the weekend.
Adekoya-Cole, a 60-yearold
consultant orthopaedic surgeon, was killed in his hometown of Itele, Ijebu East
Local Government Area of Ogun State when a clash erupted among traditional
worshippers.
The doctor was inflicted
with severe machete cuts around 7:30am on Sunday.
He was rushed to a private
hospital in the town where he was confirmed dead.
One of the traditional
worshippers, identified as Omotayo Ogunbowale, had earlier on Saturday been
hacked to death by the hoodlums.
Findings by our
correspondent revealed that the late doctor, who had usually attended the
annual festival in the past, was asked to pay “owo ile”.
A highly placed source
told our correspondent that an argument later ensued between Adekoya-Cole and
some areas boys over the N50,000 demanded.
“The hoodlums were
sympathetic to one of the traditional worshippers that was killed (Ogunbowale)
earlier. They were angry when the doctor rejected their demand for N50,000 as
‘owo ile’ and they attacked him, leading to his death,” the source said.
When contacted on the
telephone yesterday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said eight suspects had already been arrested in connection
with the murder cases.
Adejobi, a Deputy
Superintendent of Police, said the suspects would be transferred to the state
police headquarters for further investigation.
He said: “There are no new
developments on the matter yet. What I can only say is that we have eight
suspects in police custody and they will be transferred to the State Department
of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, Eleweran, Abeokuta for further
investigation.”
When contacted, the Chief
Medical Director (CMD), LUTH, Prof Chris Bode, said the consultant was not
killed in the hospital.
He said: “It is Ogun State
Police that have jurisdiction over the case as it happened there.”
Source: Today
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