Vigilance group kills two, injures one in Ogun

Two young men were killed and another seriously injured recently by members of a vigilance group in Papalanto, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

 The victims, Mr. Sunday Igiri, 18 and Mr. Michael Ubetu, 26, were said to have been shot dead, while the third, Mr. David Ubetu, was severely injured by members of the vigilance group. 

The three suspects hail from Igede Community, Benue State.

Recounting the incident, the President, Voice of Igede, the town union in Ogun State, Hon. Job Igor, said that on the fateful day, October 8, 2015, a group of vigilance group members stormed the victims’ residence at Papalanto, Old Ilaro Road, at about 9:30 pm and ordered out all the occupants.

 Igor said that the group, lined up the suspects, and later singled out the three Igede indigenes of Benue State. They dragged them into their van and headed to Ifo Road where they allegedly shot them.

He said: “Sunday Igiri and Michael Ubetu died instantly, while David Ubetu, wounded, ran to the Ewekoro Police Station, Itori, to report the incident.”

 Igor said that corpses of the dead had been deposited at the mortuary, while Ubetu was taken to the hospital where he is receiving treatment. He said the motive for the group’s action could not be ascertained as they escaped after the action.

Igor said that the case was also reported to Oba of Papalanto, who in his condolence letter, sued for calm while investigation was on to unravel the circumstances behind the killing.

 He said: “Members of the Igede Town Union had been apprehensive over the killing of the young men, but I had to appeal to them to remain calm as the union executives are ready to ensure that justice is done.”

Igor, who condemned the murder, insisted that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, guarantees citizens’ freedom to live in any part of the country.

He called on the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and the State’s Commissioner of Police, to intervene in the matter in the interest of peace.

When contacted, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, did not pick his phone call. A police source however said that some arrests had been made in connection with the case.