In Ibadan, Unknown Gunmen shot Radio Presenter to Death
The Oyo Police Command has confirmed the killing of a popular radio presenter with Naija 102.7FM, Ibadan, Titus Badejo, by gunmen.
Speaking with reporters at the Command Headquarters in Ibadan, spokesman of the state Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, said the broadcaster was shot dead outside Club 407 in the Oluyole area at about 11:30 pm on Saturday.
According to Osifeso, the late Badejo worked as a freelance disc jockey at the club before he was gunned down by gunmen.
The Police PRO added that investigations were in progress to unravel the incident’s circumstances and to apprehend the assailants.
Osifeso noted that Badejo’s corpse had since been deposited at the morgue of Adeoyo Hospital, Ring road, Ibadan.
He said: “At about 0730hrs, Sunday 20th June 2021, One Damilola Afolabi ‘m’, Manager, at Club 407, Oluyole Ibadan, reported at the Oluyole Divisional Police Headquarters that on Saturday, 19th June, 2021, one Titus Badejo, Journalist and freelance disc jockey with the club, was shot outside the club’s premises by unknown assailants.
“However, comprehensive investigations are in top gear to unravel circumstances surrounding the incident and to apprehend the assailants. Verifiable updates would be provided soonest.”
However, a source, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the deceased, popularly called ‘Ejanla”, meaning ”Big fish” in English, had been at the club with friends since 9.00 pm.
The source said the victim was leaving the club with some friends when he was attacked and shot dead by the gunmen.
He added that the assailants, who were four in number, had arrived at the place on bikes and shot him at a close range.
“When he was leaving with his friends in his car around 11:30 pm, two masked men on a motorcycle suddenly stopped his car, wielding a gun and asked all of them to lie down,” the source was quoted as saying.
“He was the only one shot by the gunmen, who left immediately without taking anything or touching the other occupants of the car.”
The source added that Badejo’s killing came exactly a week after he celebrated his birthday in the same club.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has challenged the governor of the state, Engr. Seyi Makinde and the state Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, to ensure that the killers of Badejo are arrested and prosecuted.
NUJ in a condolence message sent to members by the chairman of the union, Comrade Ademola Babalola, on Sunday, described the death of the journalist as “one death too many for us in Oyo NUJ to comprehend.”
Babalola, who condemned the recent spate of senseless and avoidable killings in Ibadan, called on the government to ensure that the security of lives and properties in the state are prioritised.
