Tragedy struck in the Ijeda-Ijesa community of Osun State on Saturday evening as an operative of the Amotekun Corps, 35-year-old Samuel Tope, was reportedly killed by a soldier identified as Fiyinfoluwa Opejobi in what has been described as an unprovoked and brutal assault.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Osun State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Mr. Adekunle Omoyele, the incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. when the soldier, dressed in full military camouflage and accompanied by unidentified individuals, stormed the Amotekun station in Ijebu-Jesa with hostile intentions.
The soldier allegedly declared his hatred for Amotekun personnel, claiming that one of his motives for joining the Nigerian Army was to “deal decisively” with them. Shortly afterwards, while Officer Tope was riding a motorcycle in the area, the soldier and his accomplices ambushed him.
“They struck him on the head with a blunt object, causing him to fall from his motorcycle. The assault lasted nearly 20 minutes as Tope lay defenceless and bleeding, with no one intervening,” the Corps Commander stated.
The attackers fled the scene immediately after the assault, with Fiyinfoluwa reportedly escaping on a commercial motorcycle. Tope was later rushed by fellow operatives to Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesa for emergency treatment. Sadly, he died in the early hours of Sunday.
The Corps has since reported the incident to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ijebu-Jesa and the Nigerian Army through Lt. Col. Yunusa Isyaku at the Engineering Cantonment in Ede.
Describing the attack as “barbaric and unjustifiable,” Omoyele called for a full-scale investigation into the incident. He stressed that the Amotekun Corps would pursue justice and ensure the perpetrators are held accountable.
“We will not allow this crime to be swept under the carpet. Officer Tope died in the line of duty, and we owe it to him and his family to ensure justice is served,” Omoyele declared.
