Tragedy struck in the Aba-Alfa area of Apata-Ganga, Ibadan on Wednesday morning, as bandits fatally shot dead a 43-year-old night guard, Sule Oyasola, after robbing a foodstuff shop, where they carted away two bags of rice and eight packs of noodles.
Sources in the area informed that the deceased, who had been in charge of security in the area for over three years, was a member of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) and had fortified himself with charms that would not allow bullets to penetrate into his body, a situation that earned him the nickname Aro ota mi (meaning on who swallows bullets).
The hoodlums numbering about six reportedly stormed the area at about 5am and headed straight to the foodstuff shop owned by a woman simply identified as Ajoke.
Some Muslim residents of the community, who were going to the mosque for morning prayer, were said to have noticed the hoodlums and immediately alerted the chairman of the Agboolo/Aba-Alfa Landlords’ Association.
The chairman subsequently called the guard who was already at home after completing his duties for the night on his phone to inform him of the presence of the hoodlums in the community.
The deceased, who was known for his bravery, hurriedly arose from his bed and headed straight to the scene where the men of the underworld were carrying out their dastardly act.
Sources in the area informed further that as the night guard was approaching the scene, he saw two men jumping unto a motorbike, and suspecting that they might me members of the robbery gang, he beamed his torchlight at them.
Sensing that the person that beamed light at them might be a security operative, the hoodlums immediately shot the guard in the chest. Unlike previous experience, the night guard screamed and fell down.
After hearing the gunshot, landlords and residents of the community stormed out of their various houses and rushed down to the scene, where they made frantic efforts to rescue his life, but before they could take him to the nearby hospital, the night guard gave up the ghost.
Police officers from the Apata Police Division Headquarters, who were in the community to visit the scene of crime, confirmed the incident.
