Ogun police nab runaway fake soldier killer

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By Olusola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)

NIGERIA: POLICEMEN in Ogun State have arrested a 49-year-old gunman in fake army uniform, who shot and killed a motor boy in Abeokuta.

The police said that Tunde Olatunbosun, who shot dead the middle-aged man, identified as Rasaq, at a carwash centre along Sam Ewang Estate, was lured back into the country from the Republic of Togo, where he ran to after committing the crime, before he was apprehended.

The Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu, told journalists on Monday at the Eleweran Police Headquarters that after killing Rasaq last April 29, the suspect ran into hiding, but the police command took the matter with seriousness to arrest him wherever he may be hiding.

He explained that officers and men of the command were put on red alert to fish out Olatunbosun, adding that less than four hours the profile of the suspect was uncovered through the coveted use of technically driven intelligence investigation.

Ilyasu said that preliminary investigations so far revealed that the suspect, who was nabbed two days after returning to the country, is a leader of a notorious armed bandit terrorizing Abeokuta and its environs.

The Commissioner said that the gang engages in snatching of vehicles, kidnapping and impersonating as military personnel to dupe the public.

The police boss disclosed that exhibits recovered from the suspect include one pump action gun with serial number 15-0083, 43 live cartridges, two camouflage Army trousers, one camouflage army knicker, one camouflage army jungle cap and seven pairs of different vehicle number plates.

While speaking with journalists, the suspect confessed to have shot the victim dead, but that he fled the scene when the gravity of his offence dawned on him.

He also confessed that he reacted in anger on observing that the truck which the deceased was inside blocked his way after he had completed washing his car.

Olatunbosun stressed that he didn’t deliberately shot Rasaq, but that it was during argument with the deceased that the gun triggered off and hit him.

The suspect on the fateful day had complained that the fuel tanker Rasaq was working with his boss had blocked his way and should be immediately removed.

An eyewitness told GatewayMail that Olatunbosun was said to have brought his Sienna car to the carwash centre and when it was time for him to leave, he approached the motor boy and asked him to look for his boss to move the truck which he claimed was blocking his exit.

It was gathered that the trailer with registration number TTD 456XA which had inscription of NIPCO on it was also brought to the car wash point for cleaning.

GatewayMail further learnt that the trailer was parked opposite the car wash centre awaiting when there would be space to move in when the incident happened.

But, it was alleged that the driver had taken a stroll away from the vicinity, when the gunman approached the motor boy, who sat quietly in the truck.

The deceased was alleged to be pacifying the gunman to enable him look for his boss, when suddenly the suspect pulled out a gun and shot him in the chest.

The killing caused pandemonium at the carwash centre as people scampered for safety while the suspect drove away from the scene.

The Police Command Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the killing, said that the command had commenced forensic investigation into the murder.

“It is true, the Commissioner of Police has ordered that forensic investigation be carried out,” Oyeyemi said, adding: “He has also directed that homicide section of the state investigation and intelligence department should take over the case for proper investigation with a view to bringing the culprit to justice.”

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