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
It was gathered that 60-year-old Adekoya-Cole, a
consultant orthopaedic surgeon with LUTH, was murdered while in his hometown to
attend a public function.
It was learnt 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.
The doctor was initially rushed to a private
hospital in the area, where he was confirmed dead.
A source in Ijebu Ode said 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.”
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