Some witnesses have alleged that a soldier attached to the Oyo State security outfit, Operation Burst, shot a fun seeker, Kehinde Adeleke and not the bar owner, Seyi Olusa.
But Taiwo, however, alleged that Olusa grabbed a gun from a soldier and shot his twin brother after a disagreement at the car park of Trans Amusement Park where the bar is located.
This is just as the Oyo State Police Command yesterday said it is still investigating last week Ibadan shooting and killing of a 30 year-old Adeleke.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude, who described the incident as very unfortunate said the murder case would be thoroughly investigated to unravel the mystery behind the shooting and killing of the young man.
Speaking through the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Superintendent of Police (SP) Adekunle Ajisebutu , the commissioner explained that the culprit would soon be charged to court after the conclusion of investigation into the murder .
He, however, cautioned that since the matter involved life, it would not be proper to rush through the investigation, adding that the police needed time to carry out thorough investigation to ascertain the actual killer of the deceased.
“The suspect will be charged to court after the police have concluded investigation into the case. You know it is a murder case, so the police will not hurry in its investigation. We will do a thorough investigation so that we will be able to ensure that the actual culprit is apprehended. Then, the case will be charged to court for prosecution,” he said.
But three witnesses of the shooting, who are regular visitors to the bar told The Nation that Olusa was not at the car park when the shooting happened and that the Nigerian Army should produce the soldier that was attached to the Operation Burst team that was at the scene of the shooting.
One of the witnesses, Alli Akinoso, said Olusa, being a friend of the victim, had no reason to kill him, adding that he could not have grabbed a gun from a soldier and return it after killing someone with the rifle.
Akinso said, “I was at the car park and witnessed the whole thing. Kehinde’s junior brother, Damola, was having a fight with someone over parking slot. I tried to talk to him but he did not listen. Then the soldier came and beat him with a stick. He fell down and we offered him water but he did not accept it. When Kehinde showed up, Demola stood up and approached the soldier violently.
“I saw the siblings struggling with the soldier. That was when the shooting began; then Kehinde fell to the ground. I tried to resuscitate him but there was nothing I could do. Taiwo was not at the scene, he was at the bar, he only came after the shooting and I was the first person he saw. He attacked me and tore my clothes. I still have the clothes with the victim’s blood on it.”
Asked how Olusa was involved in the shooting, Akinoso explained that the bar owner came out from the bar but went back almost immediately when he saw that Operation Burst men were already there.
“I saw him at the scene when the fight started; he was trying to mediate but left when the Operation Burst team came. The car park is about 100 meters to the bar. He was not there when the shot was released. It is difficult to snatch a rifle from a soldier and return it after using the same gun to kill someone.”
In Taiwo’s narration of what happened on the night of the shooting, Olusa was apprehended by his friends but he was let free by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps that were attached to Operation Burst.
However, another witness of the shooting, Yinka Fabunmi, said he, and not Olusa was apprehended by Taiwo and his friends after the shooting.
“I have an office at Trans Amusement Park and I visit the bar regularly. The place became rowdy soon after the shooting. Olusa was with me inside the bar. He wanted to know what happened, after we heard the shooting. Suddenly, Taiwo came in and grabbed him. He said that soldiers who were called to the scene had killed Kehinde. Then Damola took a bottle and smashed at my face. I was taken to a vehicle but managed to escape when the soldiers intervened. Olusa was never apprehended. I slept at J Rapha hospital in , Kehinde Adeleke took a new twist yesterday as witnesses alleged that a soldier attached to the Oyo State security outfit, Operation Burst shot the victim and not the bar owner, Seyi Olusa.
