Alleged assassination of 55-year-old Man in Ibadan: eyewitnesses report cult-related attack

Tragedy struck in the early hours of today, May 20, 2024, when a 55-year-old man, identified as Mr. Akinfaye Johnson Olawale, was reportedly shot dead in what is believed to be an assassination along Dugbe Road in Ibadan.

Eyewitnesses recounted that Olawale was walking along the roadside when a white Honda car approached and stopped near him. Inside the vehicle were four men—one driver and three passengers. According to one eyewitness, Sodiq Oyebisi, the men in the back seat rolled down their window, and without warning, opened fire on the unsuspecting Olawale.

Another witness, who wished to remain anonymous, corroborated this account, stating that after the initial gunshots, a man from the front passenger seat exited the vehicle to check if  Olawale was dead. “He raised his hand, and when it fell lifelessly, the man returned to the car and they sped off,” she said.

Eyewitnesses also described the assailant who exited the vehicle as a tall man dressed entirely in black, with a yellow bandana on his head. The distinct attire led some to speculate that the perpetrators may be members of a local cult group, though these claims are yet to be confirmed by authorities.

Following the attack, local police arrived at the scene and took the deceased’s body away. Authorities have urged anyone with information that could assist in the investigation to come forward and report to the nearest police station.

The police have not yet made any official statements regarding the possible motives for the killing, but investigations are currently ongoing.

This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the local community, with many calling for increased security to curb what some fear may be a rise in cult-related violence in the area.