The Edo State Government has confirmed the killing of the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde.
A statement by Oshiomhole's Special Adviser (Media Affairs), Tony Iyare, said Oyerinde was in the wee hours of this morning shot dead by unknown gunmen.
Iyare wrote further: "Oyerinde, 44, was shot dead by four gunmen who invaded his house located in Ugbor area, Benin City around 1 am.
"Shortly after they stormed the compound, they bounded the security guard while two of them forced their way through the front door and made straight for his bedroom.
On recognising that it was Mr. Oyerinde’s brother-in-law who was actually sleeping on the bed, they immediately left him and went for the wife, Funke, asking her to lead them to the husband who, unknown to them, was sleeping in the living room.
"On sighting him, they instantly fired four shots, one to the head, chest, abdomen and hip, killing Oyerinde instantly. The gunmen later fled without taking anything from the house.
"The killing of Mr. Oyerinde is coming exactly six days after Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s convoy was attacked along Warrake-Auchi road, by a truck that curiously veered off its track and headed straight for the staff car, missing it by the whiskers. Three journalists were killed while others including security details, sustained various degree of injuries.
"Curiously, at about 2.45am the following day, the home of the Information Commissioner, Mr. Louis Odion, was invaded by four gunmen who also missed him because he opted to pass the night in a friend’s house located in another part of the city. A member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Johnson Oghuma was also similarly attacked by gunmen recently. Oghuma who represents Etsako Central had his car riddled with bullets as he was on his way to Fugar, his hometown.
"Odion had at a press briefing last Sunday, raised fears that top government functionaries were being targeted for elimination.
"Oyerinde who read Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, was seconded from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to work for the comrade governor in November 2007. He is survived by his wife, Funke, four children and an aged mother.
"This sequence of sordid events coming each time on the eve of the flag off of Governor Oshiomhole’s campaign, raises grave concern and therefore demands thorough investigation by the security forces."
In a related development, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has deplored the killing of Oyerinde.
Soyinka said despite the killing, “the agents of darkness and retrogression will not triumph.”
In a text message on the development, Soyinka said: “The hand of the assassin is clear as day.
"It reaches all the way back to the killing of Bola Ige.
"Please convey my deepest condolences to his (Oyerinde’s) widow, children and colleagues.
“Tell Oshiomhole we all stand by him against the agents of darkness and retrogression.
"They shall not triumph.”
Iyare wrote further: "Oyerinde, 44, was shot dead by four gunmen who invaded his house located in Ugbor area, Benin City around 1 am.
"Shortly after they stormed the compound, they bounded the security guard while two of them forced their way through the front door and made straight for his bedroom.
On recognising that it was Mr. Oyerinde’s brother-in-law who was actually sleeping on the bed, they immediately left him and went for the wife, Funke, asking her to lead them to the husband who, unknown to them, was sleeping in the living room.
"On sighting him, they instantly fired four shots, one to the head, chest, abdomen and hip, killing Oyerinde instantly. The gunmen later fled without taking anything from the house.
"The killing of Mr. Oyerinde is coming exactly six days after Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s convoy was attacked along Warrake-Auchi road, by a truck that curiously veered off its track and headed straight for the staff car, missing it by the whiskers. Three journalists were killed while others including security details, sustained various degree of injuries.
"Curiously, at about 2.45am the following day, the home of the Information Commissioner, Mr. Louis Odion, was invaded by four gunmen who also missed him because he opted to pass the night in a friend’s house located in another part of the city. A member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Johnson Oghuma was also similarly attacked by gunmen recently. Oghuma who represents Etsako Central had his car riddled with bullets as he was on his way to Fugar, his hometown.
"Odion had at a press briefing last Sunday, raised fears that top government functionaries were being targeted for elimination.
"Oyerinde who read Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, was seconded from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to work for the comrade governor in November 2007. He is survived by his wife, Funke, four children and an aged mother.
"This sequence of sordid events coming each time on the eve of the flag off of Governor Oshiomhole’s campaign, raises grave concern and therefore demands thorough investigation by the security forces."
In a related development, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has deplored the killing of Oyerinde.
Soyinka said despite the killing, “the agents of darkness and retrogression will not triumph.”
In a text message on the development, Soyinka said: “The hand of the assassin is clear as day.
"It reaches all the way back to the killing of Bola Ige.
"Please convey my deepest condolences to his (Oyerinde’s) widow, children and colleagues.
“Tell Oshiomhole we all stand by him against the agents of darkness and retrogression.
"They shall not triumph.”
