The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the killing of Demola, the first son of Ojomu of Ajiran land, Tijani Akinloye.
VOA News gathered that the killing which took place on Monday along Chevron Drive, Lekki area of Lagos State created an atmosphere of fear in the community following which the area became deserted.
A notice sent to our correspondent from the management of an estate in the community urged residents to avoid the Chevron, Agungi, and Ajiran areas.
The statement read, “This is to notify all residents that Ajiran (Agungi) king’s son was assassinated today along Chevron Drive (close to Ebeano Supermarket) this morning.
“We therefore plead to our esteemed residents to avoid the Chevron area, Agungi and Ajiran for now for their safety.”
A resident, Bukunmi Folahanmi, told our correspondent that she would not be going to work on Tuesday following the incident.
She said, “It’s daylight assassination. I am not going to work again till like Wednesday. Although they (have) deployed some vigilante guys around the area.”
While confirming the incident to our correspondent, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the killing occurred around 12:30 pm.
According to him, a distress call was received at the police station in the area that the man “later identified as Demola Akinloye, aged 50 years, was attacked along Chevron Drive, Lekki.”
He said the attack took place while the deceased was driving in his black Toyota Corolla near Bourdillon Court Estate gate.
He revealed that “four armed men driving in a white minibus shot and stabbed him to death.
“The scene had been visited, one expended cartridge was recovered while the corpse had been moved to a morgue, in Ajah, Lagos State for preservation and autopsy.”
He added that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for further investigation.
A resident in the community who craved anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident said the gunmen deliberately hit the deceased’s vehicle and attacked him when he stepped out to assess the damage to his car.
“When the bus hit his vehicle, it was at the point of coming out to check his car that the gunmen attacked him. This made people who were present at the scene to run for cover. The gunmen left him bleeding on the spot after the attack,” the resident disclosed.
Another source who spoke with our correspondent from the area said he suspected the attack was carried out by those “eyeing the throne.” The claim cannot be independently verified by VOA News.
“He is the heir to the throne. The news around the community is that the act was carried out by those eyeing the throne, even though his father is still alive,” the source who craved anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident said.
A member of the family who does not want his name in print as he was not authorised to speak on the matter said the family had been thrown into mourning due to the incident.
He said, “We were shocked to receive the news of the incident. This was a child the father loved so dearly and pampered. He also had a striking semblance with him. If you see him, then you have seen the king. The mood in the palace now is not okay at all. Both the king and members of the family have stopped attending to people for now.”
