An operative of the Osun State Amotekun Corps, identified as Peter Tope, has died after a soldier allegedly stabbed him in the Ijeda area of Ijebu-Jesa.
The Commander of the Osun Amotekun Corps, Isaac Omoyele, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday in Osogbo.
According to Omoyele, the attack occurred around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday. Tope was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the soldier involved was a recent recruit of the Nigerian Army and allegedly carried out the assault without provocation.
Omoyele said, “The soldier, dressed in military camouflage, approached the Amotekun station in Ijebu-Jesa with hostile intent and made some uncomplimentary comments about the corps.
“What subsequently followed after his comments was that he and his cohorts launched an unprovoked attack on one Amotekun personnel who was coming on his motorcycle.
“They reportedly stopped the Amotekun personnel, knocked him down from his motorcycle, by hitting him with a hard object on the head.”
“The attack on him lasted for about 20 minutes, leaving the Amotekun personnel injured and rolling in the pool of blood,” Omoyele added.
Mr. Omoyele stated that the soldier and his accomplices fled the scene on commercial motorcycles.
He added that other operatives of the corps later took Mr. Tope to Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesa and reported the incident at the Ijebu-Jesa Divisional Police Headquarters.
“Unfortunately, despite efforts to save his life, Officer Peter Samuel Tope succumbed to his injuries early Sunday morning,” he said.
Mr. Omoyele called for a thorough investigation into the incident, assuring that every effort would be made to bring those responsible to justice.
When contacted, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident and said the police are making efforts to apprehend the prime suspect, identified as an Army Private.
“It was reported by the Amotekun commander in Ijebu Jesa that the suspect used his jack-knife to attack two Amotekun officials, injuring them.
“They were taken to the hospital, but one has been reported dead while the other is receiving treatment.
“We have the details of the suspect, who is an Army Private,” Ojelabi added.
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