HUNTERS PETITION OGUN CP OVER GUN ATTACK ON LEADER

The Ogun State Hunters Association, Egba Zone, has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Musa Daura, over a gun attack on the leader of the group, Mr. Adegboyega Afuwape, on his way to the venue of his installation as the head hunter (olori olode).

In the petition sent to the police boss by the hunters' solicitor, Adesemowo and Co, the association alleged that the horse on which Afuwape rode was killed during the attack, which they claimed was the handiwork of a rival group.

In the copy of the petition, obtained by our correspondent in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the hunters added that the cap on Afuwape's head was removed and taken away by the assailants.

Narrating his ordeal to journalists, the head hunter expressed gratitude to God for a divine intervention, saying he could have been a dead man after the attack on his convoy.

Afuwape, while accusing a prominent traditional ruler in Abeokuta of taking sides in the rivalry between the hunters' groups, warned that the face-off could result in a bloodbath if not resolved before it snowballed into a violent confrontation.

The Chairman of the association in the state, Chief Albert Oyegunwa, lamented that the police had refused to arrest the assailants despite knowing their identities.

He said, 'It is unfortunate that one could be attacked in broad day light and the police would refuse to take an appropriate action. Our plea is that the police should ensure that the assailants are prosecuted.'

When contacted for comments, the spokesman of the state police command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said that although he had not seen the petition, the police would take necessary actions on it.