‘He was shot in the head’: How gunmen killed Ogun businessman in church

An elderly man who had gone to worship in church on Sunday has lost his life in Ogun after he was shot dead during the service.
Tola Okuneye, 70, was attacked by unidentified assailants at the St. John Anglican Church in Oke-Sopen, Ijebu-Igbo.
The assassins, numbering about 10, are said to have invaded the church and aimed directly at their target.
The Daily Independent reports:

A member of the congregation, who pleaded anonymity narrated the story to Daily Independent: “We were in the church and it was exactly when the pastor started his sermon around 11.00 a.m., these boys numbering about 10 came into the church and went straight to where Ajagajigi sat and shot him on the head.
“We were shocked and everybody was jittery, as the service abruptly came to an end. Some people, especially, the elderly people, were still in shock as I am talking to you now.
“No one can say anything about his death, he is not a politician; if he is one, we would have been thinking that his political opponents carried out the act, but as it is now, the
church has been deserted, except some few people who were with the pastor”.
Another source confirmed that the death of the man could never be traced to politics, but that it may be from some of those he is in litigations with.
“Otunba is not a politician, so the issue of suggesting political undertone in his death is not correct, but what I can say is that the man is a troublesome man who loves fighting with everybody.
“I know that he has a lot of matters in various courts and from my little observation, we cannot rule out this area in his killing, but God knows best,” an ally of the deceased who resides within the vicinity told Daily Independent.
The deceased’s residence at Kazeem Street Shokas area, Oke-Sopen, in Ijebu Igbo has now turned to a Mecca of sorts, as people trooped to the area to commiserate with the family members.
Otunba Tola Okuneye is a well known man in the town and neighbouring communities.
He was among the earliest to start furniture making in Ijebu area.
He is survived by six wives and over 20 children.
The remains of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital in Ijebu-Igbo.
Reacting to the incident, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, assured that government will do its best to get the killers.
He gave the assurance during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased and the scene of the incidence in Ijebu-Igbo, saying the perpetrators of the dastardly act would not escape judgment.
“The heinous manner with which the life of a good citizen who had invested in security was terminated is uncalled for.
“I don’t know why men of the underworld will terminate the life of a man who will not hurt a fly. They even went as far as carrying out the dastardly act in the sacred house of God.
“This was a man who did his best on security of lives and property as a way of serving humanity. As a government, we will do out best to ensure that the perpetrators of this act are brought to justice,’’ Amosun said.
The Governor, who was accompanied by the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, Director of State Security Service, S. Charanchi, and members of his cabinet, condoled with the Okuneye family as well as the Christian community and Ijebu North residents prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest in spite of the circumstances of his death.