Men of the Vigilante Service of Ogun State, VSO, reportedly shot dead
a student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Moruf Raji,
29,yesterday, and also a staff of a telecommunication company, MTN
Nigeria, Akeem Usman, 32, while chasing suspected robbers.
The incident occurred at Adigbe areaof the state capital at about 1.00
a.m when a team of the vigilance service allegedly ordered residents
of 18A, Sorinola Avenue, Oriyanrin, to open their gate for them to
arrest suspected robbers believed to be hiding in the building.
Some of the residents who were mostly students refused to open the
gate, suspecting the vigilante men to be robbers trying to play smart,
according to an eyewitness.
The witness further explained that Moruf and Akeem went out from their
rooms and opened the gate for them but one of the men of VSO opened
fire on the two men killing them instantly.
The VSO still went ahead to force their way into the compound after
shooting the two men and ransacked the rooms, while the victims were
bleeding profusely, Vanguard reports.
The vigilantes were later said to haveused their patrol vehicle to
rush the victims to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba Abeokuta where
they died following excessive loss of blood.
Sources say Moroof was a Business Administration student of MAPOLY who
was on one-year Industrial attachment and Akeem was a staff ofMTN. He
got married seven months ago, according to a source.
According to findings, Akeem worked in Lagos but was in Abeokuta to
attend a religious programme scheduled for 10.00am on Sunday.
He was said to have resolved to sleepwith a family-friend because of
the proximity of the house to the venue of the programme.
His driver, Abayomi Awoyajo was also said to have sustained injury
after being battered by the membersof vigilance during the raid.
Narrating the incident Abayomi said they were all inside when at about
1.00am ,the vigilante men came asking them to open the door.
"We all thought they were armed robbers, we started running
helter-skelter, some of us hid in the wardrobe, while some hid under
the chairs," he said.
The 30 year old driver, also said the two victims in pool of their
blood crawled back into the house,crying loud, while the vigilantes
forced theirway into the house to continue dealing with all of them in
a brutal matter.
"They even asked for brother Akeem's car key which I gave to them,
but, could not be taken out because of the security device installed
in it, we were later rushed to the hospital" he explained.
Members of the vigilante service involved in the act have now been
arrested by the police from Adigbe station.
The case was said to have been transferred to Eleweran Police
Headquarters, Abeokuta but the Police Public Relations Officer in the
State, Muyiwa Adejobi could not be reached as at the time of filing
this report. [Vanguard]