In a disturbing incident in Iwo, the headquarters of the Iwo local government area in Osun State, a local hunter reportedly killed a young man.
According to reports, the fatal encounter occurred at the junction of the Latico area in the town around 3 am on Tuesday, following an argument between the hunter and the victim over the latter’s destination.
Residents in the vicinity heard gunshots and upon investigating, discovered the hunter attempting to remove the body of the deceased. Promptly, the police and other security agencies were alerted to the scene.
Confirming the incident, Kehinde Adeleke, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osun State, stated that the hunter was apprehended by the police and rescued from the scene, where a mob had gathered with intentions of violence against him.
Adeleke noted that some youths in the area protested by setting fires, but order was restored by NSCDC operatives present.
The Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the arrest of the suspect and disclosed that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the killing had commenced.
Opalola emphasized the command’s concern over the reckless use of firearms, urging caution among the public, particularly hunters and other security personnel, in handling firearms.
“The Osun State Police Command is deeply troubled by the report of the shooting and killing of a man in Iwo, despite continuous warnings and sensitization efforts directed at members of the public, especially hunters and local security outfits, regarding firearm usage,” Opalola stated.
The command urged the deceased’s family and residents of Iwo to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands, assuring that a team of detectives had been assembled to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.