Some
politicians, newsmen were lucky to escape death on Monday after some
gunmen opened fire during installation of Mogajis and Baales in Ibadan.
“Three journalists; Olufemi Atoyebi, Demola Babalola, Jeremiah
Oke; and a chieftain of Labour Party who was a former Secretary to the
Oyo State Government, Sharafadeen Alli, were among the people who
escaped death while the shooting lasted.“While the activity was going on, the four gunmen in a black
Toyota Sienna opened fire sporadically around 11:45am, shattering Alli’s
car’s glass windows and other cars parked in front of the palace.“The journalists, who were just arriving at the gate of the
palace, were caught in the fire, but they escaped being shot as they
ducked for cover in the drainage outlet in front of the palace.“They were there for about 10 minutes until the gunmen sped off
towards Molete end of Popoyemoja. Alli, who is the Asaju Balogun
Olubadan of Ibadan land, was also lucky, as he was inside the car when
bullets hit his car.“The gunmen stopped in front of the palace, shooting and daring
people inside the palace to come out and confront them. The shooting,
however, did not stop the coronation inside the palace.”
PUNCH