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Tragedy struck in Ijeda, Osun State, at the weekend, when a soldier allegedly launched an unprovoked attack that led to the death of a 35-year-old operative of the Osun State Amotekun Corps, Peter Samuel Tope.
According to an official statement by Isaac Adekunle Omoyele, the Corps Commander, the incident happened around 5:45 p.m. when the soldier, identified as Opejobi Fiyinfoluwa recently recruited into the Nigerian Army allegedly launched an unprovoked assault on the Amotekun operative.
The statement said that Fiyinfoluwa, who was reportedly dressed in full Military camouflage, stormed the Amotekun station in Ijebu-Jesa in an aggressive manner, allegedly boasted that one of his motivations for joining the army was to “deal decisively” with Amotekun personnel.
Shortly after the confrontation, Officer Tope, who was riding a motorcycle, was stopped by the soldier and some unidentified accomplices and violently attacked him, striking him on the head with a blunt object, which caused him to fall from the motorcycle.
The assault reportedly lasted for about 20 minutes, with no intervention, leaving Officer Tope critically injured and lying in a pool of blood. The attacker fled the scene on a commercial motorcycle.
Fellow Amotekun officers responded swiftly, transporting the victim to Wesley Hospital in Ilesa, while also notifying the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ijebu-Jesa and Yunusa Isyaku, Lieutenant Colonel at the Engineering Cantonment in Ede.
Despite medical efforts, Tope sadly succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Sunday.
BusinessDay reports that the incident sparked outrage within the local community and heightened tensions between security agencies.
The Corps said ivestigations were currently underway to determine the full circumstances of the attack and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
