Toba Suleiman
4 January 2009
Ado-Ekiti — Tension is mounting in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, following the gruesome murder of Mr Kehinde Fasubaa, who is a prominent indigene of the town and a top official of the Finance and Administration Department, Northern Region, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), by yet to be identified assailants.
The deceased, twin brother of former chairman of Ado-Ekiti Local Government area of the state, Honourable Taye Fasubaa, was said to have been murdered between 10p.m. and 11p.m. on Saturday.
However, news of the ugly incident did not spread until Sunday morning, after which youths in the town embarked on streets protest.
As soon as the news begun to spread like wild fire, most churches became empty, as worshippers trooped out, with most of them mourning and wailling.
The youth brandished dangerous weapons and set up several bonfires across some strategic locations within the ancient community, disrupting free flow of traffic.
Some motorists, especially those coming from Ikere, Ijan and Iyin-Ekiti axis who were not aware of the development ran into the protesting crowd and were subsequently forced to turn back.
The angry youths smashed windscreen of several vehicles, while others who were already aware of the incident hung leaves on their vehicles as a sign of solidarity.
Fasubaa was said to be nursing the ambition to contest the Senate in Ekiti Central Senatorial District in 2011, hoping to resign from the service of PHCN in 2010.
Traces of his blood were still obvious on the road where he was murdered.
Sources said he attended a political meeting at an hotel on Housing Road, Ado-Ekiti and was on his way back home in company of two other people, when he was attacked at Odo-Ado area, by assailants who ordered all occupants of the car out.
It was also learnt that immediately he was identified, the killers opened fire on him while the other occupants were asked to lie face down.
After the operation, which was said to have lasted not more than 10 minutes, his car, a Toyota Corolla, was driven to an unknown destination.
Eye-witness account said the killers who were in black attires, did not leave immediately but waited for more than five minutes, to ensure that their victim was actually dead.
Shortly, after the operation, the killers were said to have escaped in two vehicles, one of which was a 2008 Toyota Camry, and made a u-turn, facing the town ,before disappearing into thin air.
He was later rushed to the state specialist hospital, Ado-Ekiti, for medical attention where he died at about 11.10p.m.
The state Governor, Segun Oni, who paid a condolence visit to the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, said it was too early to make comment on the sad development.
According to him, the police had started investigating the incident, and not until they come out with their report, nothing could be said about the murder.
Meanwhile, the state police command said it was on top of the investigation into the murder and asked the people with information to assist the police. The Command Spokesman, ASP Mike Akindipe, said the police may request for the assistance of forensic expert to nab the killers.
It would be recalled that, his twin brother, Taye, escaped death in September, 2004, when gunmen invaded his house at Odo-Ado area of the state capital.
Some persons including three aides of former governor of the state, Mr Ayodele Fayose, were arraigned for the murder, but were later discharged for want of evidence.
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