DISPELLED: No bandits' attack in Ajaawa - Findings reveal

Image caption: Alajaawa Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji

DISPELLED: No bandits’ attack in Ajaawa – Findings reveal

Yinka ADETUNJI

Information flying around indicated that there was attack by bandits at Ajaawa, headquarters of Ogo-Oluwa local government area near Ogbomoso in Oyo state Friday night.

According to a report by Naija News the bandits killed at least three people and wounded several others in the community. It added this had created panic against the backdrop of the recent killing and kidnap incident at Oriire local government area also in Ogbomoso zone.

However, findings by ogbomosoinsightonline.com revealed that the report was an over exaggeration of what happened and that it didn’t even happen in Ajaawa.

According to findings an okadaman was shot after leaving Ipeba which is in Oriire local government area, along Ogbomoso – Ilorin road.

The okadaman used to convey two women selling bread and other items to travellers by the road side at Ipeba, to their village in Ladanu which however is in Ogo-Oluwa local government area some kilometres from Ajaawa.

“Friday night too he was there to convey us when another motorcyclist began to follow us but we didn’t think anything of it,” one of the women (names withheld) said.

“Then at a lonely place before the Oba River Bridge between Ipeba and Ajaawa, we just heard a gun shot which hit our okadaman and we fell into the bush. Our okadaman eventually died. The unidentified gunman also rode away.”

This was confirmed by the Alajaawa of Ajaawa HRM Oba Thompson Adeyeye Oyetunji Olumole II, who said “It was a despicable occurrence but to write or peddle the news that Ajaawa was attacked by bandits and killed my subjects is wrong. Ajaawa is peaceful. Even Friday’s killing happened on the soil of Oriire local government because the Oba bridge is the boundary between the two local governments and it happened before they reached the bridge. We sympathize with the family of the deceased. God will comfort them and help us overcome these criminals.”

The Alajaawa added, “But l need to express dissatisfaction with the recent spike in fake news especially surrounding Ajaawa. Last week too, news spread that bandits had attacked schools and killing people in Ajaawa. It was a lie too. People outside Ajaawa should be wary of news sources and rumours.”

Police sources in Ajaawa also dispelled the rumour of bandits’ attack in Ogo-Oluwa local government area. “Ajaawa is peaceful and Ogo-Oluwa is peaceful. The incident on Friday is a case of murder not by bandits according to the passengers of the okadaman killed, and it even occurred in the jurisdiction of Ikoyi-Ile Divisional Police headquarters. People should be warned of fake news or rumours.”