United States Professor and politician, Richard Adeoriokin, met an untimely demise in Ejigbo, Osun state. The tragedy occured as a local security guard accidentally shot him while bidding farewell after an event.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 pm on Saturday along Inisha Road of Ejigbo, following the conclusion of a public function attended by Professor Adeoriokin, his political associates, and the son of Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oyeyode Oyesosin.
After a meeting at the king’s residence, the son ordered a security guard to fire gunshots into the air as a gesture of farewell to his friends. Unfortunately, one of the bullets struck Professor Adeoriokin, leading to his tragic demise. Subsequently, an enraged mob killed the security guard.
Afeez Lawal, the personal assistant to the deceased Professor, revealed that the event marked the 50th coronation anniversary of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo. The Governor, Ademola Adeleke, had been conferred with a chieftaincy title at the ceremony before the unfortunate incident.
Lawal recounted, “When the king’s son wanted to bid his guests farewell, he ordered the local security to fire guns into the air. Unfortunately, one of the security’s guns was facing down, and the bullet hit Professor on his leg. He fell, and before we could rush him to the hospital, he had lost a lot of blood. He gave up the ghost at the Baptist hospital in Ejigbo.”
The remains of Professor Adeoriokin have been deposited at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital Morgue.
In response to the tragedy, Governor Adeleke ordered a thorough investigation into the killing and condoled with the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyosin. He directed law enforcement agencies to probe the remote and immediate causes of the incident and ensure justice prevails.
Expressing his concern, Governor Adeleke urged families of the deceased not to take the law into their own hands and called for pre-emptive action by security agencies to prevent potential counter-attacks or violence in the ancient town.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), through its state chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, also condoled with Ejigbo, describing the death as tragic and wicked. The party urged the Police Authority to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.