A man identified simply as Nurudeen, a.k.a Alo, is currently on the run and is wanted by law enforcement officers in Oyo State after he allegedly shot two people, Fakayode Usman and Adekola Sikiru. Nurudeen allegedly shot one in his private parts and the other in his leg. He was alleged to have done that to vent his anger on his inability to find the person who broke the windscreen of his vehicle at Kudeti area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, SP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident. He said that investigation was ongoing in the matter.

According to reports, Alo, believed to be a member of a faction of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), was coming from a party at about 7 p.m. on the fateful day, when he brushed a commercial motorcycle with his vehicle close to the cathedral at Kudeti where some traditional worshippers were having their festival. Angered after being hit, the motorcyclist reportedly banged the car with his fist, causing its back windscreen to crack. He allegedly zoomed off thereafter. Though Alo pursued him, the bike rider escaped within the area.

However, Alo was said to have disembarked from his vehicle with the belief that the rider was hiding in the midst of the celebrants. He reportedly approached them, asking them to fish out the Okada rider. They were said to have replied that the person was not among them, except he could recognise him.

Infuriated by the response, Alo allegedly started beating the celebrants, including the elderly, and scattered their party. He was also said to have shot into the air, prompting those in their nearby houses and others watching a football game, including Sikiru and Usman, to come out to see what was happening.

Sikiru recognised Alo and reportedly called him by the appellation. He asked him what happened and he spoke on his broken car windscreen. Sikiru pacified him and asked that he waited for a search if the culprit might be in the crowd. Alo was said not to be placated. A source told Saturday Tribune that in anger, he threatened to shoot Sikiru who is also a member of the OPC. Sikiru was said to have been surprised at the threat.

Usman?s story

Usman, 28, who is a tricycle driver was shot in the groin. He said: ?On that Sunday, we had just seen the English Premiership match between Arsenal and Chelsea and were by the roadside. We noticed a crowd, moved closer and saw that two men, identified as Alo and Omoga. We noticed that it was Alo that was causing the chaos.

?Sikiru asked Omoga what was happening and he explained that the back windscreen of Alo?s car had been broken by an unidentified person. The culprit had allegedly escaped into the quarters (agbo?le) in the area. Sikiru tried to calm them down, telling them that we would assist in the search for the culprit. However, Alo did not listen. He picked a pole from an erected tent and started hitting some elderly people at a party with it.

?The next thing we saw was that he went to his car, brought out a gun and pointed it at me at close range. I made to run away but he shot me. I became immobile. The pellets hit my inner left thigh and scrotum, and also my manhood. I started shouting for help.?

Sikiru?s narration

Sikiru, 37, a commercial motorcyclist living at Olunloyo Street, Kudeti area, also narrated his experience: ?We were beside the Cathedral Church in Kudeti when we saw traffic gridlock. A party was being held by traditional worshippers.

?When we got near, we saw that Nurudeena Alo was causing trouble. We asked him what happened and he told us about his cracked windscreen.

?We asked him to be patient and told him that we would search the crowd for the culprit. However, he did not listen. He was fuming. He began to shoot and went into a compound. He came back, removed a pole from a tent erected by the traditional worshippers and beat some people with it. Others ran and this brought the party to an abrupt end.

?His female partner pleaded with him to let go and leave the vicinity. He went to his car and his female friend thought they were leaving. Unknown to us, he went to reload his gun. He returned to us, followed by his friend popularly known as Omoga. He pointed the gun at Usman and shot him in the thigh. He turned to me. As I made to run, he shot at me also.

?Immediately after he did that, he got into his car and drove off. He was pursued by some sympathisers but he escaped. People came to our aid and took us to a traditionalist to extract pellets in our bodies. The police from Mapo and Idi Aro police stations, as well as Amotekun personnel came to us.

?Till now, we have yet to see him. He went into hiding. Some people went to look for him in his woman?s house at Ilupeju area, but couldn?t find him.

?He should be apprehended and brought to justice. I?ve spent a lot of money on treatment. My family had to go borrowing. Twenty-three pellets were removed from my leg between that Sunday night and Monday. Four more were removed on Thursday. The pain is too much for me.?

The head of the traditional worshippers at the event, called the Oluwin, Pa Osuolale Ogunsola, told Saturday Tribune that they we were in worship when a man came towards me and punched me several times on the chest. He also hit other worshippers with a pole and went away with the sound mixer of the DJ we hired. ?Later, he shot at two people and injured them. Many people at the event ran away with injuries when the attacker descended on them for no just cause,? Ogunsola, 80, said.

Another witness who was at the celebration, Mr Osadamilare Egbejope, who was also injured in the head, said: ?We were celebrating at our traditional festival when I felt a blow from a metal pipe on my head. I ran to escape from being killed. I heard gunshots and was so afraid that I slipped and hit my injured head on the ground again. I had to go for treatment. However, I?m sure that our deities will not allow the offender to go free.? (Saturday Tribune)

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