Oyo PDP member killed ‘after heated argument with hoodlums’

Hakeem Mudashiru, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state, has been reportedly killed after a “heated argument with hoodlums”.

The victim, who is said to be a grassroots campaigner for the PDP, was reportedly killed on Wednesday morning in Oyo town.

Confirming the incident to TheCable in a statement on Wednesday night, Adewale Osifeso, police spokesperson in Oyo, said nine suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing.

He added that officers have been deployed to the area to restore calm.

“There was an unfortunate case of random violence that led to the death of one Hakeem Mudashiru ‘m’ 40yrs reported by the father of the deceased, one Jimoh Agala, at Durbar Divisional Police Headquarters, Oyo State, today Wednesday, 28/12/2022 at about 1335hrs (01:35pm local time),” the statement reads.

“Preliminary investigation has it that the deceased was attacked by hoodlums with who he had hitherto engaged in a heated argument.

“At the moment, (9) Suspects, including a female, have been apprehended in conjunction with the case, which is currently being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department.

“Ample deployments of Police operatives have been sent to the Area to prevent further breakdown of law and order.“

PDP BLAMES APC FOR KILLING 

Meanwhile, the PDP, in a statement by Akeem Olatunju, the party’s publicity secretary in the state, has accused the Oyo All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the attack.

“The opposition party has shown nothing but unrestrained desperation, utter recklessness, sheer political brigandage which is daily heightening the political campaign ahead of 2023,” the statement reads.

“The gruesome killing of our member, Mudashiru Baraka, a PDP member from ward 4 Tengba, Oyo East local government, is one that will not be allowed to be swept under the carpet.

“This is so because we have consistently raised a series of alarms to forestall such ugly occurrences with no definite outcome.

“These have further emboldened APC in Oyo state and some of its candidates perhaps in the consciousness that it controls the government at the centre to recklessly engage in such dastardly acts all in the spirit of winning elections at all cost.

“We need to once again remind APC in Oyo state that it is not the only opposition party in the 2023 race and must not turn Oyo state to a theatre of political war with the needless attacks and killings of perceived superior opponents.

“We call on the state Commissioner of Police who has done creditably well to bring about the relative peace in the state, to immediately step in and expedite action that will guarantee culprits of Baraka’s gruesome murder are brought to justice.”