Suspected hoodlums kill APC member in Ibadan

Suspected hoodlums have reportedly hacked a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to death in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday.

The victim, identified as Ridwan Adeyemo, was reportedly killed in Agbokojo, in the Ibadan North-West Local Government Area of the state.

According to reports, the assailants attacked Adeyemo with dangerous weapons, resulting in his death.

However, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said he could not confirm the attack.

“I cannot confirm the attack,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State chapter of the APC, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, confirmed the killing and called on the police to investigate the incident.

The statement said Adeyemo, a member of the APC in Ward 06 of the Ibadan South-West Local Government Area and a commercial motorcyclist, died at the scene of the attack in the Ita-Barika area of Agbokojo, Ibadan, where he was reportedly attacked by a gang of armed men.

The party’s leadership, led by its state secretary, Hon. Fatai Adesina, condemned the killing during a condolence visit to the bereaved family. He described the incident as a broad-daylight attack that left the community in shock and tension.

Adesina said: “We received the shocking news of the dastardly act at the late hours of Friday. It became more regrettable when we got to know that the deceased was attacked and hacked down because he was an APC loyalist, as eyewitness accounts had it that his killers queried him on why he chose our Party over other registered political parties.

“We have certain clues regarding the identities of his attackers and the reasons behind the gruesome murder, but we will keep everything for now so as not to jeopardise police investigations. Adeyemo’s murder is one killing, too many, considering the fact he left behind an aged mother and a young pregnant wife.

“He has been described by many people as an easy-going and responsible citizen who did not deserve to die in the hands of murderous hoodlums.

“In the last few days, the leadership of our great Party has had causes to call on the security agencies to be proactive in checking the activities of sponsored political thugs and hoodlums who have been threatening members of the opposition parties in Ibadan and other parts of the state. Unfortunately, the worst has happened again, as an innocent man had to pay the supreme price for being a member of the APC in Oyo State.

“The onus is now on the security agencies to launch a manhunt for those who killed Adeyemo, as well as their sponsors, with a view to making them face the full wrath of the law. On our part, we shall support his family and also ensure that those found to be responsible for his death do not go scot-free. We will help the police in their investigation and also continue to preach peace as we move closer to the 2027 general elections,” Adesina said.