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The untold story of Chief Okuneye’s gruesome murder inside his hometown church

‘We’ll fish-out his killers’ – Amosun

Late Chief Okuneye
Late Chief Okuneye

The gruesome murder of Ogun top businessman and owner of the Tola Furniture, Chief Tola Okuneye has sent jitters to the spines of some prominent leaders and residents of Ijebu Igbo, the headquarters of Ijebu North local government. This is coming on the heels of the story that the killers of the prominent high chief may still be lurking around the corner for more targets.

ENCOMIUM Weekly reliably gathered that the police are working on the lead that the Tola Furniture boss was allegedly assassinated by a cult group whose top leader was killed recently in the town.

Exclusive information scooped that the deceased, who was until his death the head of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in the area was said to have informed the Police about the nefarious activities of the leader of the cult group. We further gathered the leader of the cult simply identified as Jagu was visibly embittered by the move of late Okuneye and other security apparatus in the town.

Further investigation on the report has it that, the cult leader, before his death had severally called the late Okuneye on phone to desist from chasing him or pay the supreme price.

“So, when he (Jagu) was killed in a bloody encounter with the police, his members allegedly believed that the late Okuneye must have played a leading role in his death, hence their resolve to snuff life out of the aged man”, a source revealed.

We further scooped that the sudden death of Chief Tola has since forced some well-known people in the town to beef up their security.

It could be recalled that assailants, numbering 10, on Sunday, April 6, 2014, invaded the premises of St. John’s Anglican Church, Oke-Sopen, Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State and killed a popular businessman, Chief Tola Okuneye, known locally as Tola Furniture.

A witness told newsmen that the assailants of the 69-year-old man stormed the church in two vehicles at about 11.00a.m, while the Sunday service was still on and went directly to the pew where the deceased was sitting, shot him on the head and left without taking anything from him.

The witness said, The service was on when we noticed that some boys numbering about 10 and armed entered the church and headed straight to where Chief Okuneye was sitting and shot him on the head. It was the time our preacher was about to mount the pulpit. It was about 11.00a.m.

“We were shocked and everybody was jittery as the service abruptly came to an end. Some people, especially the elderly, are still in shock as I am talking to you now. The deceased was not a politician. If he was one, we would have been thinking that his political opponents carried out the act. But as it is now, the church has been deserted, except some few people who were with the pastor,” he said.

Okuneye is a well-known man in the town and environs. He was among the early furniture makers in Ijebu area. He is survived by six wives and over 20 children, and his remains have been deposited at the mortuary of the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo.

On Thursday, April 10, 2014, Senator Ibikunle Amosun represented by Otunba Olaide Oshiifeso, the Chairman of Ijebu North local government presented a cash donation of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) to the family to assist them in the burial bills of the deceased who was committed to mother earth on Friday, April 11, 2014 in Ijebu Igbo.

The LG boss who described the deceased as patriotic indigene beseeches Almighty God to forgive him his sins and grant him eternal rest.

Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has assured that government will do its best to get the killers.

Amosun gave this assurance during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased at the scene of the incident in Ijebu-Ode and said the perpetrators of the dastardly act would not escape judgment.

”The heinous manner with which the life of a good citizen who had invested in security was terminated is uncalled for.

”I don’t know why men of the underworld will terminate the life of a man who will not hurt a fly. They even went as far as carrying out the dastardly act in the sacred house of God.

”This was a man who did his best on security of lives and property as a way of serving humanity. As a government, we will do our best to ensure that the perpetrators of this act are brought to justice”, Amosun said.

The governor, who was accompanied by the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, Director of State Security Service, Mr. S. Charanchi, and members of his cabinet, condoled with the Okuneye family as well as the Christian community and Ijebu North residents prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest inspite of the circumstances of his death.

Responding, son of the deceased, Gbenga Okuneye and presiding bishop, St. John’s Anglican Church, Oke-Sopein, Ijebu-Igbo, Rt. Rev. Gbetogo Kuponu in their respective remarks, thanked the governor and security chiefs for their visit and concern, praying that the present administration in the state would achieve all its dreams and aspirations.

–  DAYO RUFAI

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Written by Encomium

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