The Oyo State Police Command has assured Nigerians that the suspected assassins who murdered Mr. Gideon Aremu, a member representing Orelope Constituency in the state House of Assembly will soon be arrested.
The assurance was given by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, who spoke through the command's Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Saturday.
The lawmaker from the Labour Party, who until his death was the only opposition lawmaker from the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Public Relations and Security, was killed in front of his house in Alaakia area of the state on Friday night as he alighted from his car to open his gate.
Oyebade, who condemned the killing, said, "This is a case of suspected murder. We have ordered thorough investigation into the matter. We have also deployed enough human and material resources to carry out an intensive manhunt for the culprits.
"We assured the public that very soon the hoodlums responsible for this dastardly act will be arrested. Members of the public who have useful information that could help in this investigation are encouraged to avail the police of such information immediately."
Brother of the 41-year-old late lawmaker, Mr. Ezekiel Olaleye, said he and the deceased' wife heard gunshots after what seemed like an argument.
He said, "His wife was at the balcony, waiting for his return. Usually, he returned home before 7pm but he had to go out, and when I called him he said he was coming soon.
"When he came in, three men on a motorbike accosted him. There was what looked like a brief argument and he asked them what they wanted. Then, we heard gunshots. There was N65,000 with him but they only took his two mobile telephones."
The deceased left behind a wife, two children and aged parents.
An eyewitness of the murder, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, informed our correspondent that three men on a motorbike trailed the late lawmaker to his home before shooting him several times as he came out of his car.
She said, "He was killed around 11pm by three men who followed him in a motorbike. I am certain that they were not in a hurry and they wanted to be sure that he was killed at a place that would be comfortable for them to shoot him at a close range.
"As 'honourable' came down from his car, his killers immediately jumped down from their motorcycle and shot him several times. They did not take any money from him but just his mobile telephone after which they left in a hurry.
"After being shot, he was taken to a nearby hospital at Iwo Road, Ibadan, where he was confirmed dead."
A source close to the lawmaker also said there was no doubt that it was a premeditated murder because the killers did not take any money from him despite the fact that there was some amount of money in his car.
The source, who identified himself as Adeolu, said, "They killed a gentleman for no reason. This is not a case of robbery because no money was taken from him and they did not demand anything from him.
"From what we heard, he did not even see them so there was no struggle between them. He was shot from close range and he had no chance of surviving the attack.
"Police must move quickly and apprehend the killers. He is my friend and I was to meet him on Saturday morning at home. His death is a big shock to his friends and family."
Meanwhile, Governor Abiola Ajimobi has condemned the killing.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, Ajimobi said Aremu's death in the hands of suspected assassins at a relatively tender age was not only tragic but condemnable.
The statement partly read, "As soon as news of the sad event filtered into the knowledge of the governor last night, the governor immediately got into contact with heads of all relevant security agencies, including the police, state security services and the army to ensure that any and every one connected with the dastardly act is promptly apprehended and made to face the full weight of the judicial consequences of such sins against humanity."
Reacting to the death of Aremu, Oyo State Chairman of the LP, Mr. Gbenga Ariba, described the death of the lawmaker as shocking and unfortunate.
He said Aremu was an easy-going lawmaker, while wondering who he (the lawmaker) could have hurt for him to deserve being cruelly murdered.
Ariba, who was in tears as he condemned the killing, said, "This is an ungodly, barbaric and condemnable act. How could anybody consider that kind of thought to cut short the life of a fellow man? What kind of politics is this?
"Yesterday, it was Peoples Democratic Party ruling at virtually all levels. Today, it is the All Progressives Congress; and tomorrow, it could be another party. Why are we killing ourselves? What is the motive?
"I implore the police and other security agencies in the state to step up investigations into this matter and bring the culprits to book to serve as deterrent to others."
In its reaction, the state chapter of the APC described the murder as most shocking and disturbing.
In a press release signed by the party's Director of Publicity and Strategy, Mr. Olawale Sadare, on behalf of the party's chairman in the state, Mr. Akin Oke, the party called on the police to thoroughly investigate the killing and bring the killers to face justice.
The ruling party described the opposition lawmaker as an energetic, diligent and gentle politician whose death had opened another sad chapter in the history of the state.
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