Kemi Shoboyede waited endlessly for her husband’s return on Thursday February 27, 2025. Worried by his delayed arrival, the mother of three reached out to a few friends and colleagues of her hardworking husband, Saheed Shoboyede, a carpenter and commercial driver in the Osuke area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Unknown to her, her 24 years old husband who left their residence hale hearty had been shot by some land grabbers. Shoboyede was rushed to the State General Hospital, Ota where he was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.

“Killer land grabbers have turned me into a widow. They have forced me to take up the responsibility meant for two persons.

“My husband was a carpenter and he was on a visit to one Baba Oloye at Osuke when hoodlums led by a notorious land grabber called Elijah unleashed terror on the community and gunned him down.

“He had his workshop at Osuke and he would normally return at the weekend because of the numerous jobs he has to handle for his customers.

‘’He was also a driver whenever he had no job to do in order to make ends meet.

“The incident occurred at about 8 am. Land grabbers, led by a man called Elijah, stormed the Muslim Prayer Ground in Osuke on a motorcycle and shot indiscriminately, causing panic among residents during which my husband was shot dead.

“I want the state government to get justice for me and my children. Elijah has been killing people unnecessarily in order to grab their lands.

“Government should make the killing of my husband the last one by Elijah and teach him a lesson.

“My husband left me with three children and he also had one with a woman who is also late.

“I am really heart broken and need justice for my slain husband.’’

Giving a graphic account of the incident, an artisan who went to the community to honour a job appointment, Ibrahim Idowu, recalled how he narrowly escaped being hit by the sporadic shots from the hoodlums.

Idowu said: “I went to Osuke for a welding job, and while I was there waiting for my client around the Eid praying ground at about 7 am, some men stormed the place and started shooting sporadically.

“I ran into the bush with other residents until the hoodlums stopped shooting and left on a motorbike. A young man was shot dead.

“The police later arrived at the scene but the hoodlums had left by then, and those of us who hid in the bush for safety seized the opportunity to come out.’’

The traditional ruler of Ita Alia community in Osuke, Chief Jomoh Tolib Akeju, explained that the hoodlums’ siege on the community had been on for some time, urging the state government and police authorities to arrest the culprits and ensure justice.

 “This killing was one too many. One Elijah led some boys to kill one of our youths at Osuke, and he has been doing it for some time and getting away with it.

“The state authorities should rescue us from his reign of terror.

“Elijah has powerful godfathers who use him to terrorise property owners.

“Only government can save us from him. Hence we are crying out to the state government for help.

“We know that when government is ready, Elijah will be arrested.

“We know that he has godfathers who ensure that he is never arrested for the killings he has carried out, but he will definitely be arrested if government intervenes.

“Hence we are calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Governor Dapo Abiodun to order his arrest so that he can face the wrath of the law and we can live in peace.’’

The head of Ileke Royal Family, Biliaminu Adisa Akeju, said the land grabbers were working for some powerful men, who always ensure they are not arrested and prosecuted.

“One Elijah, who has a lot of godfathers and has been killing people in Osukeland. He just killed one Saheed Soboyede and no one can stop or apprehend him.

“He has been doing it for long and always avoided arrest.

“I believe that God has the power to ensure he is arrested and made to face justice for killing people in a bid to take their land.’’

“Government should please rescue us from the grip of heartless land grabbers at Osuke who have been killing people here all the time.’’

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command has condemned the brutal attack on Osuke Village, Ota, by gunmen, which led to the death of Shoboyede.

The command assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to apprehend the culprits.

 A statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson for the command, CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident.

Odutola disclosed that Olusoji Jinadu, a resident of Iju Mosque Compound, reported the attack to the police at about 2:20 pm.

He told the police that on February 27, at about 8 am, a group of armed hoodlums led by a man identified as Elijah stormed the Muslim Prayer Ground in the community, firing indiscriminately and causing panic among residents.

Odutola said: “Tragically, the complainant’s son, Saheed Jinadu Shoboyede, was hit by a bullet.

“He was rushed to the State General Hospital, Ota, where a doctor on duty confirmed him dead.

“His remains have been preserved for an autopsy as part of the ongoing investigation.”

She added: “Police operatives promptly visited the crime scene where three expended cartridges and two spent AK-47 rounds were recovered.

“His remains have been preserved for an autopsy as part of the ongoing investigation.”

Odutola added that the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered a full-scale investigation to track down the perpetrators.

“The Ogun State Police Command remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.

“We urge members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with the police by providing any useful information that could aid in the swift apprehension of the culprits,” Odutola stated.

The police further urged anyone with relevant information to contact the nearest station or call the command’s emergency lines.