27th March, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
The policeman that killed his wife and five members of a family, including an auto-cyclist, in Abeokuta today, has been described as mentally deranged.
Information gathered was that the killer cop, identified as Corporal Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi, ran amok early this morning while still in the office and had to hurriedly leave for his house and carry out the killings.
The policeman early today at Akingbala area of Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State shot dead his wife, Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, a commercial motorcycle rider,identified as Kunle and five members of a family.
After killing his wife who was also a policewoman attached to the Obantoko Police Station and the seven other victims, the rampaging police corporal shot himself dead immediately.
Three other persons who sustained gunshot injuries during the incident were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba for treatment.
Narrating the incident to our correspondent under anonymity,an eye witness said,” Ogunbiyi had arrived at the No 67, Ifelodun Street, Akingbala area,Obantoko, residence of the family of five who had allegedly been harbouring his wife and his two children at about 7:02am and immediately opened fire killing his wife and the commercial motorcycle rider simply identified as Kunle”,he narrated.
Residents disclosed to P.M.NEWS that the police corporal had in the past issued several warnings to the owner of the property on Ifelodun Street, to desist from harbouring his wife and children whenever they had any misunderstanding and whenever she moved out of his house.
But the landlady was said to have turned deaf ears to the police man’s warnings.
Ogunbiyi, who our correspondent gathered had been laying ambush for his victims in a nearby bush, was said to have emerged from nowhere with his rifle as the commercial motorcycle rider was about to pick his wife who was already dressed in her police uniform and their two children who were said to have also been dressed up in their school uniforms in front of the house.
After shooting dead his first victims in front of the house but sparing his two children, the rampaging policeman was said to have proceeded straight into the six-room uncompleted building where he immediately opened fire and killed the landlady, who had yet to wake up from the mat she was sleeping on when he shot her.
Ogunbiyi also shot dead Basira,the landlady’s daughter and her two-year-old daughter, Jesutofunmi as well as the landlady’s two sons, Taofeek, a Senior Secondary School 2 student of Nawar-u-Deen Grammar School, Obantoko and his elder brother, Sikiru.
Among the early callers to the scene of the incident this morning was the State Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye.
In a release today by the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO,DSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said that Ogunbiyi and his wife had been having a domestic conflict before the shooting incident occurred.
Adejobi, however said that the Command has already commenced a forensic investigation into the killing. He added that the command would also ensure justice is done in the matter.
The PPRO statement read in part, “The Ogun State Police Command has deemed it necessary to react to the killing of six persons by a police Corporal Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi attached to the Ogun State Police Command.
“The unfortunate incident occurred this morning Thursday 27th March, 2014 at 0758hrs when the said corporal, who had been having domestic conflicts with his wife, shot and killed six persons, with his rifle, including his wife, Woman Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, the landlady in the house, a two-year-old baby girl and two males and one female, while another three persons sustained injuries and receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta. The said corporal, having killed these persons, shot himself dead immediately.
“The Commissioner of Police Ogun State, CP Ikemefuna Okoye has described the incident as unfortunate; and has visited the scene with other senior police officers in the command to assess the situation and sympathize with the relations of the deceased and members of the Akingbala Ifelodun Estate, Eleweran Area, Abeokuta, where the incident took place.
“The Command has therefore commenced thorough forensic investigation into the killing and promised to make sure justice is done in the matter.
“The commissioner of police however appeals to the general public to perceive the incident as one of the unfortunate social mishaps and not to judge the police with the incident, as the police is committed to protection of lives and property and will not tolerate any act capable of trampling on fundamental human rights of the citizens of Ogun State”,the statement concluded.