AN 18-year-old girl identified as Kofoworola Abubakar, was on Saturday morning, reportedly killed by a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Idi-Oro, Queen Cinema area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital shortly before the commencement of the local government election held in the state.
Sunday Tribune gathered that the girl, who had just completed her Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) a few days back, was preparing for her graduation ceremony as a certified tailor next week before the incident occurred.
Eyewitnesses of the incident, who spoke with Sunday Tribune, disclosed that some young men had gathered in the morning awaiting the arrival of the officials of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), when some personnel of the NSCDC numbering about six suddenly arrived at the scene in a white Hilux van.
One of the personnel was said to have alighted from the van and fired a shot that killed the girl, who was standing very close to a pharmacy shop where she had gone to buy a pain relief drug.
The girl, who was said to be holding a temporary voter card, was said to have died instantly.
An eyewitness, whose shop was not far from the scene of the incident spoke to Sunday Tribune on a condition of anonymity that the girl was killed by the shot allegedly fired by one of the men of NSCDC, who alighted from the van, adding that residents were all shocked when they heard the gun shot, as there was no reason for it.
When Sunday Tribune visited the scene, a pool of blood was being cleaned by some residents of the area, who could not hold back tears.
Sunday Tribune also visited Kofoworola’s house and spoke with her elder brother, Lanre, who revealed his sister had complained of a slight headache and had approached a medicine store before she was hit by the bullet.
“She told me she wanted to get a drug across the road because she had headache. The next thing I had was a gunshot and by the time I got there, I found my sister in a pool of her blood. She was hit by the bullet fired by an NSCDC official. We will not rest until justice is served,” he alleged.
Sunday Tribune learnt that her corpse had been deposited at the morgue of the Adeoyo Hospital, while an mob attacked the NSCDC Divisional Office in Ibadan North-West Local Government Council at Ekotedo, vandalising the property.
Giving an eyewitness account, one Kafayat said, “some boys were having altercations among one another and were chasing one another. We then saw Civil Defence officers in their vehicle chasing the boys. We suddenly heard a gunshot and Kofoworola, who was running away from the scene, was hit in the head.”
But the NSCDC, through its Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Oluwole Olusegun, denied that an NSCDC officer shot Kofoworola, saying that the NSCDC agents were only at the area to forestall crisis following reliable information they got that hoodlums were planning to invade the area.
Oluwole fingered hoodlums in the area as being responsible for the killing.
“It is unfortunate that the people did not find out the truth about the incident before accusing NSCDC officer of killing Kofoworola,” Oluwole said.
He, however, noted that the Oyo State Police Command had begun investigation into the matter.
In his reaction, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Oyo Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the police had arrested the suspect, assuring of investigation into the incident.
“The suspect is in police custody. The CP, Abiodun Odude, has directed the State Investigation and Intelligence Department, Iyaganku to carry out diligent investigation into the incident,” Ajisebutu said.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has condemned the resurgence of cult war in Idi-Oro and Ayeye areas of Ibadan North-West Local Government, blaming it being as responsible for the killing of Kofoworola.
He also condoled the family of the slain girl.
A statement by the Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy to the Governor, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, said that the governor was pained by the disturbing news, especially coming on the heels of the successful conduct of the state’s first local government election in 11 years.
While commiserating with the family of the victim, he assured that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
“From the intelligence reports at my disposal the perpetrators of this heinous and condemnable crime were the recalcitrant cultists engaging in supremacy battle in Idi Oro and Ayeye areas of Ibadan who are yet to embrace our peace initiative.
“I want to use this opportunity to condole with the family of the victim for the irredeemable loss. Let me again warn that those bent on scuttling the peace that we have enthroned across the state in the last seven years will leave to regret their action.
“I have directed the security agents to ensure that they fish out the perpetrators of the crime and ensure that they are brought to justice. I want to appeal to the good people of Oyo State to join hands with the government to sustain our hard earned peace,” Ajimobi said.
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