The police in Ekiti say they have commenced an investigation into the murder of a Point of Sale agent identified as Alfa by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.
The assailants also shot dead a wheelbarrow pusher hawking rice at the Oja Bisi area of the state capital on the same day.
The incident, according to a source privy to the incident who spoke with PUNCH Metro on the conditions of anonymity, occurred in the early hours of Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The incident was said to have created tension in the area as residents scampered for safety.
The source said, “Alfa was just opening his shop when the gunmen who were about three came around 8 am and shot him.
“It was after the incident that we gathered that they went away with his money. People were scampering for safety upon hearing the sounds of gunshots.
“Alfa is very popular in the area. It was the police that came around to calm the situation.”
Reacting to the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, noted that an investigation had commenced into the matter.
He added that though the assailants are yet to be identified, efforts are ongoing to apprehend them.
“The incident happened. We have commenced an investigation into the matter. No arrest has been made so far but we are on the trail of the assailants and will bring them to justice,” Abutu said.
The incident was said to have happened between Oke-Ako and Ipao-Ekiti in Ajoni Local Government Area of the state.
The duo – Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area and Elesun of Esun Ekiti in Ajoni, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, were attacked by the gunmen while returning from a meeting.
Meanwhile, the CP, Adeniran, has ordered a massive deployment of operatives from the tactical and intelligence units across the state to ensure protection of lives and property of citizens and the arrest of all criminal elements.
He said that the action was “in view of the recent ugly incidents in Ekiti State, particularly in Ado Ekiti metropolis, where hoodlums suspected to be secret cult members fatally shot at innocent citizens”.
The commissioner, in a statement on Thursday evening by the PPRO, Abutu, assured Ekiti residents that “necessary security measures have been put in place to ensure the arrest of the syndicate perpetrating this dastard act and to forestall further occurrence”.
He stated, “The CP has ordered massive deployment of operatives from the tactical and intelligence Units across the state especially in Ado Ekiti in collaboration with other security agents including the local security outfits to ensure maximum protection of lives and properties of all good citizens and the arrest of all criminal elements.
“The command enjoins everyone to remain calm, law abiding and go about their lawful businesses without any form of apprehension.
“Citizens are hereby warned against any act that could further heighten the current situation as those found causing breaching of peace will be made to face the wrath of the law.
“The command implores everyone to be security conscious, vigilant and assist the Police and other security agents with credible and timely information that could aid in apprehending the criminally minded persons in the society,” he stated.