Member of House of Reps popularly known as Sugar shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ibadan

HON Temitope Olatoye the member of the Federal House of Representatives representing the Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in Oyo State has been reported dead after he was shot by unknown gunmen in Ibadan during yesterday's elections.

Popularly known as Sugar, Hon Olatoye, ran for senator two weeks ago as the candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP). Back in 2015, he was elected into the House of Representatives as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but defected to stand against the party a fortnight ago.

Shot in the head by suspected political thugs in the Lalupon area of Ibadan, Hon Olatoye died in the intensive care unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan in the evening. UCH spokesman Toye Akinrinlola, said that while in the intensive care unit, doctors battled in vain to save his life and he eventually died around 7.45pm.

It is believed that some political thugs of a rival politician in the constituency carried out the attack on the lawmaker who was returning from his village where he had gone to exercise his franchise when he was ambushed. For now, it is not clear which party the thugs who attacked him were hired by but Hon Olatoye had vowed never to return to the APC, notwithstanding the overtures made to him by a former governor Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, to come back.

Also yesterday, a supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), simply identified as Mudasiru, was shot dead by a police officer in Ile Titun area of Ibadan South East Local Government Area of the state. Mudasiru, in his late 20s, was said to be celebrating his party’s victory when a trigger-happy officer fired a shot which hit him from the back and ruptured his intestines.

One eyewitness said that he was quickly rushed to a traditional doctor, Chief Kehinde Ege, in Ita Ege for treatment. However, as the traditional doctor was almost getting the bullet out, the young man gave up the ghost having lost too much blood.

Meanwhile, in Rivers State, a policeman and three others were reportedly killed by unknown gunmen during an operation that saw local PDP leader Mrs Emilia Nte, being kidnapped. Apparently, the policeman was said to have tried to protect Mrs Nte, who is a former council chairperson from being taken away when the gunmen shot him.

This attack apparently took place at about 6pm on Friday in Nyeada, Andoni Local Government Area of the state. According to eyewitness reports, Mrs Nte was returning home when the gunmen attacked her vehicle and shot the policeman before whisking her away.