…two victims of same parent
Yet-to-be identified gunmen on Tuesday killed four local hunters known as vigilante members.
According to reports, the incident happened at Faje community in the Asa local government area of Kwara state.
It was gathered that during the attack three of the local hunters were killed on the spot while the fourth one was hit by the attackers’ bullet.
The report confirmed that five hunters were riding on two motorcycles before the unknown gunmen pounced on them at about 7:00 pm on a bush path a few metres away to the village. Three of the hunters were shot dead, while two others who narrowly escaped and ran back to the village to inform members of the community of the incident.
However, the alleged attackers were said to have bolted away with the hunters’ two motorcycles, abandoning their own bike.
A source said that “about five victims of the attack were coming from Ilorin to Faje village on two motorcycles on Wednesday night. Before the people could get to the village, herdsmen attacked them at about 7:00 pm. The names of the deceased are Muri, Laide and Segun. Two of the victims are of the same parents.
“One of the motorcycles used by the attackers was recovered by the members of the vigilance team and had been deposited at the Otte Divisional Police station.”
Another source said the member of the community had earlier reported that gunmen abducted one of the hunters in the community.
The source said that the abducted villager raised the alarm by using his phone to call his colleagues to relate to them what had happened, including the location of the attackers.
“Then five of the hunters mobilized in two motorcycles to the place. But as they approached the vicinity, the herdsmen immediately opened fire on them killing three instantly on the spot who were on the first motorcycle. The deceased names are Muri, Segun and Laide. The other two on the other motorcycles sustained bullet wounds and one of them has been taken to the hospital for treatment while the other who was initially taken to a trado-medical home to remove the bullet later died this morning. The incident happened around 7 pm Tuesday night and was preceded by sporadic shooting.
“Their corpse has since been retrieved from the police in Otte on Tuesday and buried according to Islamic rites today,” the source said.
The Kwara state police command spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi, when contacted, confirmed the incident.
Okasanmi said that the command has commenced investigation into the matter and assured that efforts were in top gear to bring the perpetrators to book.