UPDATED: Journalist shot dead in Ibadan

The Oyo State Police Command, on Sunday, confirmed that a freelance journalist, Titus Badejo, popularly called Ejanla, was shot dead on Saturday evening.

Daily Trust reports that Badejo was killed at a popular club in Oluyole area of Ibadan the Oyo State capital around 9 pm.

Our correspondent learnt the assailants, who were four in number, had arrived at the place on bikes and shot him at a close range.

Badejo’s killing came exactly a week after he celebrated his birthday in the same hotel.

Reacting to the incident on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Adewale Osifeso, told Daily Trust that Titus was shot dead in front of a club in Oluyole Ibadan.

He said: “At about 0730hrs, Sunday 20th June 2021, One Damilola Afolabi ‘m’, Manager at Club 407, Oluyole Ibadan reported at Oluyole Divisional Police Headquarters that on Saturday 19th June 2021 one Titus Badejo, Journalist and Freelance Disc Jockey with the club was shot outside the club premises by unknown assailants.

“However, comprehensive investigations are in top gear to unravel circumstances surrounding the incident and to apprehend the assailants.

“Verifiable updates would be provided soonest, pls.”

‘Fish out killers’

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has challenged the governor of the State, Engr. Seyi Makinde and the state Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, to ensure that killers of Ibadan-based journalist, Titus Badejo are arrested and prosecuted.

NUJ in a condolence message sent to members by the chairman of the union, Comrade Ademola Babalola, on Sunday, described the death of the journalist as “one death too many for us in Oyo NUJ to comprehend.”

Babalola, who condemned the recent spate of senseless and avoidable killings in Ibadan, the state capital, called on major stakeholders to ensure the security of lives and properties in the state are prioritised.

The condolence message reads; “Gone too soon! Titus Badejo…We mourn the untimely passing and gruesome murder of a journalist whose sad killing took place on Saturday at a Club in Oluyole area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

“A very distinguished OAP, DJ and Sports presenter, Badejo’s killing is one death too many for us in Oyo NUJ to comprehend.

“The spate of senseless killings & avoidable deaths is worrisome and calls for concern of all discerning members of the public.

“It appears those who have scores to settle with one another, are using the rising insecurity in the State to perpetrate killings of monumental dimension.

“Under the cover of darkness, the assailants snuffed life out of a bubbling young man and cut short his precious life.

“What a cruel life! May your assailants never know peace. May the wrath of God descends on them wherever they are hibernating.

“We use this opportunity to once again, call on the authorities; the Governor, CP and others, to fish out killers of the deceased journalist and others mowed down in their primes in recent times.”