There was pandemonium yesterday in Ijebu-Igbo as no fewer than 10 armed men suspected to be assassins invaded St. John’s Anglican Church at Oke-Sopen in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State and killed a 70-yearold man.
The septuagenarian, Chief Tola Okuneye, who was popularly called “Ajagajigi” was shot in the head by his assailants.
The suspected assassins stormed the church premises in two vehicles at about 11.00 am while the Sunday worship service was in progress.
The suspected assassins headed straight for the pew where they located the deceased, took his life and fled the scene without taking anything away from him.
An eyewitness, who spoke with Newsmen, explained that the preacher was about to mount the pulpit when the congregation noticed some armed youths entered the church and headed straight to where Chief Okuneye was sitting and shot him.
The witness said: “We were shocked and everybody was jittery as the service abruptly came to an end. Some people, especially elders, were still in shock as I am talking to you now”.
While ruling out the killing was political, the witness said the deceased was not a politician to warrant the suspicion that his opponents carried out the attack.
He said: “But as it is now, the church has been deserted except some few people who were with the cleric.”
Many residents, however, claimed that the septuagenarian may have been killed due to series of litigations he had before the court.
“What I can say is that the man is a troublesome man who loves fighting everybody. I know that he has a lot of matter in various courts. We cannot rule out this in his killing, but God knows best.
“Chief Okuneye is well known in Ijebu-Igbo and neighbouring towns. He was among the first generation artisans who specialised in furniture making in Ijebu area,” a resident, who did not want his name mentioned, said.
The late septuagenarian, whose body has been deposited at the mortuary of the general hospital in Ijebu-Igbo, left behind six wives and over 20 children.
