Lagos — Given the periodic rate of killings in Ekiti State, the rural state may be suitable to be described as the Biblical Akeldama, which in the the Jewish language means the field of blood.

Successive governments since the advent of the ongoing civil rule has had to battle several cases of murder. In this report, Toba Suleiman, who chronicles the heaps of assassination cases in the state, gives a vivid account of the recent murder which has altered the hitherto political serenity of the state

After heaving a sigh from the spate of assassinations which has become a recurring decimal in Ekiti State, another wave of the ugly scenario broke out last weekend, when Mr. Kehinde Fasubaa, a former General Manager, (Finance/Administration) at the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Kaduna zone, was hacked down by yet to be identified gun men.

Consequently, the state capital, Ado Ekiti, went up in flames last Sunday, when angry youths and women took to the streets to protest the gruesome killing of an indigene of the town on Saturday night.

The atmosphere around the family compound still remained tensed on Wednesday, when THISDAY visited the scene. Emotion rose; tears flowed freely as both family members and sympathizers wailed uncontrollably in expression of the loss.

"Our lives have been ruined. The best of our clothes have been torn into pieces, and we are worse than the most wretched ones on earth. Who could have done this to us? Only God knows." These were extracts of lamentations from the family members of Fasubaa, who fell victim of assassins' bullet on Saturday, January 3, this year between the hours of 9pm and 10pm.

The deceased was the twin brother of Mr. Taye Fasubaa, a two-time former Chairman of Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State. The killing of the Fasubaa, who was described as a great philanthropist in his life time, triggered spontaneous and violent protests among youths as well as women of Ado Ekiti.

By virtue of his generosity and popularity among his kinsmen, the killing of Fasubaa, who would have been 50 years old this year, would not be easily forgotten.

Apparently irked by the gruesome murder of Fasubaa, a benefactor of several people in the ancient community, as soon as the news of the incident filtered into the town on Sunday, several protesters, armed with dangerous weapons, took over Ado-Ekiti to express their displeasure over the dastardly act.

Consequently, several bonfires were made on some major streets, including Mathew/Odo-Ado, Ijigbo Junction, Old Garage and Oke-Yinmi round about. Besides, the aggrieved youths and women also barricaded major roads and streets, disrupting a free flow of traffic. Motorists were ordered to turn back, causing stampede in Ado-Ekiti. Some vehicles were also damaged, especially windscreens of vehicles of drivers who ran into the protesters. The anger generated by the killing was so acute that as early as 7 am on Sunday, the streets had been taken over by protesters as Christians were prevented from attending church services. Movement was also disrupted around the city. ?

THISDAY learnt that the deceased was warming up to contest the senatorial election of Ekiti Central senatorial district at the forthcoming 2011general election. He was said to be seriously considering resignation from his office, as soon as the coast would be clear for his political ambition. But this was not to be as he was cut down while his dream was still in a state of conception.

Although, the state government had ruled out notions that the killing was politically motivated, circumstances which surrounded killing have heightened opinions that the assassination might indeed be political.

A family source told THISDAY that the late Fasubaa was at home on December 25, 2008 for the Christmas celebration and was expected to spend his Christmas break of 10 days at home before returning to Kaduna.

The source said the slain Fasubaa was expected to return to Kaduna the following Monday, January 5, 2009. The source further hinted that the late Fasubaa, had rounded off some of his political meetings after due consultations with who is who in the politics of Ado-Ekiti. He was said to have attended at a particular meeting at a hotel within Housing Area on Afao Road in Ado-Ekiti on that fateful Saturday, which later turned out to be his last outing as he became a victim of assassins' bullet on his way back home in the state capital.

It was further learnt that the deceased was in company of one of his associates, Mr Tunji Gold and two other friends, whom he had given a ride in his Toyota Corolla car, when the assassins struck.

Sources disclosed that as soon as the PHCN manager was identified, the assassins, who dressed in black T-shirts, pumped several bullets into his chest and also shot sporadically into the air to scare people away. Other occupants of the car were ordered out and asked to lie face down, with one of them falling into the drainage. But the co-occupants were left untouched as soon as they identified their target.

The killers reportedly ensured that Kehinde died before they departed after about five minutes in two cars including a black 2008 model of Toyota Camry, with Lagos registration number and another Toyota Corolla.

Sympathizers later rushed the former PHCN manager to the University of Ado-Ekiti Teaching Hospital at about 11 pm, where he was confirmed dead. His corpse has since been deposited at a morgue in the state government hospital.

While reacting to the incident, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ekiti State Command, Mr. Mike Akindipe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, who confirmed the killing, said investigations by the command had commenced, which he said might require forensic assistance.

However, Mr. Femi Falana, a Lagos based lawyer and an indigene of Ilawe-Ekiti, alleged that the "condemnable" assassination could be traced to the internal problems in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State. According to Falana, who is also the President of the West African Bar Association (WABA), it became imperative for Ekiti State governor, Mr. Segun Oni, to expose the killers, whom he alleged, were within the PDP in the state.

"On December 20, 2008, Ekiti State Government thugs attempted to kill Mr. Suyi Owoeye at Ilawe-Ekiti, for challenging the rigging of local government election. Oni's government has shielded the PDP chieftains involved in the heinous crime. Let Governor Oni and the Ekiti Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Ola, not shed crocodile tears over the brutal murder of Mr. Kehinde Fasubaa, as both connived in protecting criminal elements in the police and the Ekiti PDP," Falana alleged.

But contrary to rumours in some quarters that the state governor, Oni did not pay a condolence visit to the family, Oni actually visited the palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, where he met with the deceased's brother, Taye and simultaneously commiserated with the deceased family.

Taye, whose whereabouts was still unknown at press time last Wednesday, could according to a source, still be at the Ewi's palace, where he was said to be taken refuge since the incident occurred, probably to keep him away from the crowd of sympathizers.

Speaking at the Ewi's palace, Oni said it was too early to comment on the sad incident adding that the police had already started investigation, just as he urged the people to wait for the outcome of the investigation before conclusions are drawn. But Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Public Communications, Mr. Joseph Ogunsemi, dismissed the alleged involvement of the state government in the killing, saying the state governor is a man of peace, who cannot even hurt a fly and hence could never have imagined any assassination in the state that he governs. This is moreso that the deputy governor, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, is also an indigene of Ado-Ekiti. The spokesman lamented that linking the administration of Oni to the murder, would amount to giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it.

"Insinuations that Ekiti government might be responsible for the assassination is wicked and can only emanate from a demented mind. The state government cannot be involved in any way whatsoever. Governor Oni's administration is known for peace and good governance. I urge the people of the state to support the security agencies to carry out full investigations into the murder of our promising son. God will surely vindicate the just and punish the wicked accordingly.

"We are worried. Only recently, some people poured acid on a foremost chief of Ado-Ekiti and we are also aware of the situation where five kids were locked up and who eventually suffocated in their father's car boot. We call on God to deliver our state from wicked souls," Ogunsemi prayed.

Also condemning the act, the Ado-Ekiti Progressive Union, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kole Ajayi in the state capital on Sunday, equally called for a thorough investigation into the murder, which it said must not go the way of past assassinations in the state, whose perpetrators walk freely on the streets.

The union asked the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, to take urgent steps aimed at tackling the high rate of insecurity in Ado-Ekiti and other parts of the state, restating that the assassination must be thoroughly investigated.

It would be recalled that the deceased's brother, Taye escaped death in September 2004, when gunmen invaded his Ado-Ekiti home. Consequently, Some persons, including three aides to the former governor of the state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, were arrested and arraigned for the murder, but were later discharged for want of evidence.

Also reacting to the killing, the Action Congress (AC) in state, condemned the murder, saying it reflected the spate of insecurity in the state, despite assurances from the state government that it has beefed up maximum security in Ekiti State.

The AC in the statement by its state chairman, Mr Jide Awe, described the killing of Fasubaa as "one of the chapters in the catalogue of woes visited on Ekiti people since the PDP robbed its way into the state government house".

"The PDP in Ekiti has never departed from the path of bloodshed and wanton wastage of previous lives in pursuit of its political trademark of do-or-die. Ekiti has lost considerable promising souls to the bestial intrigues within the party that almost all the main cardinal points of the state had lost at least an illustrious personality," Awe stated. The party recalled that it was in the same circumstance Dr. Ayodeji Daramola was cut down in his prime that the twin brother of the latest victim, Taye Fasuba escaped assassins' bullet in Ado-Ekiti.

"In a mere party primary in Ekiti West, the PDP wasted the soul of a chairmanship aspirant while their former chairman and Women leader were lucky to reject an early transition into the grave. The PDP's just concluded solo-run council election further showed that they are in eternal wedlock with live obliterating crisis with the use of machetes and other weapons on themselves at polling units where they stood as opponents against themselves", the party said.

The AC further stressed that the assassination of Mr. Kehinde Fasuba might be the handiwork of those political roughnecks who in the recent past were on the trail of AC leaders. The party said it had reasoned not to join issues with the PDP "over their council poll malady because of our conviction and revelation to security agents that our lives were not safe saying since the devil cannot remain idle, those hired blood suckers are now unleashed on themselves."

The Ekiti opposition party added that "We insist that this latest tragedy would not be swept under the carpet as there had never been any clue to previous assassinations and devious attempts on lives. The AC, therefore, called on the state police command to be alive to its constitutional responsibility of securing the lives of the people instead of joining issues with perceived PDP opposition.

Speaking in the same vein, a human rights activist, Mr Morakinyo Ogele asked Governor Segun Oni to explain how he has been spending the security votes which he has been deducting from the allocations to the state saying the latest development showed that the governor cannot maintain the security of lives and properties. He challenged Oni to tell the whole world why the upsurge in criminal activities in the state pointing out the state police boss, Mr Chris Ola is not competent to manage the state police command. According to Ogele, "It seems the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro dressed the State Commissioner of Police in borrowed robes to make him a Commissioner."

Even, the family members of late Fasubaa appeared not to be satisfied with the claim in government quarters that the killing has no political undertone. Besides, the family members, who spoke through their head, and the elder brother of the slain PHCN boss, Mr Oluyemi Fasuba, condemned the Police authorities for what they described as lackadaisical attitude displayed by the police since the incident occurred. While speaking with journalists at the residence of the deceased, Mr Oluyemi Fasubaa, declared that the killing of his younger brother was a clear case of assassination, and not a case of armed robbery, contrary to the picture some people are trying to paint.

The 63-year old Fasubaa, who is the father of the renowned sprinter, Olusoji Fasuba, explained that the deceased had been engaged in controversy with some members of the PDP in Ado Ekiti over his ambition for 2011, which he said Governor Oni was aware of. According to him, even Governor Oni had waded into the crisis, which he said has since pitched late Fasubaa and some other members of the ruling PDP against one another. He recalled that the last reconciliatory meeting they went for was held three days before the killers struck. He therefore contended that linking the death of his brother to armed robbery was like a ploy to pervert the course of police investigations.

He remarked, "This is a painful death. We are all saddened by this untimely death because it is a colossal loss to us in Ado Ekiti. Some of the people in the present government are being fingered, but we are not going to pre-empt the outcome of Police investigations because that is the only authorities that can investigate as far as Nigeria is concerned.

"But we are convinced that his death was politically motivated and this is what makes it so sad. I don't expect politicians to be making mockery of Nigerian democracy. This is not how democracy is ideally practised, because people of goodwill would not be interested in politics again", he added.

The elder Fasubaa, who commented on the alleged shoddy handling of the case by the Police, said he expected the security agents to have swung into action by intensifying patrol and reached out to the family for useful information. He regretted that instead of doing that the reverse had been the case. "I am a retired Police officer and I know how things should be. The Police should be more proactive to this kind of horrible situation. The Security is so loose in this country that anybody can be killed any time."

Meanwhile, the state government has disclosed that it would soon set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the killing. Addressing a press conference, in what appeared to be the first official reaction of the government to the incident, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Gboyega Oyewole, said the panel whose membership he did not disclose would be allowed to carry out an independent investigation that would unravel the remote and immediate causes of the unfortunate incident.

The panel, according to him would commence operation immediately the police round off their investigations. He added that the leads that would be produced by the Police would serve as searchlight for those that would be empanelled. Oyewole maintained that it is the belief of the state government that at the end of the investigations, the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be brought to book. "We are going to set up the panel as soon as we get the proper direction the Police investigation is going, so that the perpetrators would not go unpunished," he said.

While trying to correct the insinuations in some quarters that the killing was politically motivated, Oyewole, pointed out that it would be too hasty to conclude just like that since Police investigation was still on over the incident. According to him, "It would be pre-emptive of the Police investigation if people started making insinuations that could distract the investigators.

"This is part of the government efforts to unmask the killer(s) and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought book. The effort is not to pre-empt Police investigations, however the constitution of the panel would determine the directions and the outcome of the investigations. It is very hasty to conclude now that the killing was politically motivated but the government is determined to identify the killers", he said.

While also reacting to allegations that the state governor or any top government official has not visited the family of the deceased since the incident occurred on Saturday, Oyewole said such allegations were wicked and untrue. "It is not true that the governor has not commiserated with the family. The governor has actually visited Taye Fasubaa at Ewi's palace to commiserate with the family on the death of their son. Whoever is saying that Mr. Governor has not commiserated with the family, it is either that such a person is not aware of what the governor has done so far, or that he is trying to be mischievous, and it is quite unfortunate," he said.

Oyewole, who described late Fasubaa as a close friend of the governor, said even to him, he (Fasubaa) was his uncle. He added that the state government did not react to the incident immediately, because it didn't want to obstruct police investigations.

By and large, it is true that the state government has indicated its readiness to set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the murder, but the question that most people are asking and which has formed the basis for the fear they are now entertaining is the fact that several cases of assassinations that have occurred in the state are yet to be resolved.

Unless and until government finds the killers of prominent indigenes of the state such as the late Ayodeji Daramola, Mr. Yemi Oni, Mr Tunde Omojola, Mrs Eunice Omojola, (a.k.a) Thatcher and several others, it is evident that people might not take this latest one seriously.

It would be recalled that Ayodeji Daramola, a World Bank consultant, also a PDP governorship aspirant, was killed at his residence a few kilometres away from Ijan-Ekiti on August 14, 2006. Shortly after his death, the then state governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose put a ransom of N5million for whoever has any information that could lead to the killing.

Late Daramola before he was brutally murdered in cold blood was said to be having a running battle with Fayose over the governorship election that would come up later in 2007. His case is yet to be resolved.

Mr Tunde Omojola, was killed in Ifaki-Ekiti on May 28, 2005 during a council election which was contested by his in-law, and a candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP). He was said to have been kicked to death by those suspected to be loyalists of the PDP during a local government bye-election in the area. His case is equally yet to be unresolved.

One Mrs. Eunice Omojola, an Alliance for Democracy stalwart, was also sent to her early grave through acid bath by her killers. She was a very strong and prominent woman in AD during the regime of the former governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo. Nothing is heard about her death again.

Even, Taye Fasubaa, the twin brother of the deceased, and a former Ado-Ekiti council chairman was attacked by unknown gunmen at their residence on September 1, 2004. He only escaped by the whiskers.

Taye fought the battle of his life, and was fortunate to win the battle, as he was able to over-power his attackers, at the end of which he was even able to seize one of their locally made guns, with which they came to attack him. Some suspects were later arrested and arraigned in court for some time, at the end of the day they were let off the hook, after some funny drama.

The alleged shooting of some students of College of Education , Ikere-Ekiti by a chieftain of the PDP, Chief Dayo Okondo on March 2, 2004, while protesting over a government policy on education is also another case that was not resolved in the state. The peaceful protest embarked upon by the students, was later met with stiff opposition by the ruling party, which ordered the armed policemen to control. However, at the end of the incident several students were shot, a development which led to the amputation of one of the protesters. The case is still an unresolved one up till today.

Concerning the latest incident, there are posers political watchers in the state are putting before the security operatives to answer. Although, the family members appear not to be ready to make further comment on the incident, some sympathizers who have continued to besiege the residence of the late Fasubaa are calling on the police to do a thorough job that could lead to the arrest of the killers of their illustrious son.

They recalled bitterly that late Fasubaa had concluded arrangements to travel back to his stations with some youths, who are desperately looking for job. But, in their opinion all these have become mirage, a dream that can no longer come to pass.