Gunmen on Monday night shot and wounded the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Compass, Mr. Sina Kawonise, in Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State.
In Ibadan, Oyo State, a member representing Ibadan South East II in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Bamidele Ojo, was also reportedly shot by gunmen.
Kawonise was said to be on his way back from Awka, Anambra State, when his vehicle was ambushed by some armed men at Ikeji Arakeji about 9pm.
A statement by the Editor, Westerner, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, said the assailants opened fire on Kawonise’s vehicle to force it to stop but were repelled by his two police orderlies.
Adebanjo added, “Kawonise was shot in the leg by the attackers while one of the two policemen also suffered gunshot wounds. The armed attackers later fled the scene while Kawonise and the wounded policeman were evacuated to a nearby hospital. Doctors treating the duo say they are stabilising.
“Kawonise was in Awka as the keynote speaker at the 17th annual conference of the Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Association which held at the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka.”
He added that the police had commenced investigations into the incident.
Meanwhile, Ojo, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, was said to have been attacked by armed robbers on Sunday at Egbeda.
The lawmaker, apart from sustaining bullet wounds, reportedly lost his Toyota Avensis car to the robbers.
He is currently said to be on admission at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
A member of the hospital, who craved anonymity, said the lawmaker would undergo a second surgery today (Wednesday).
Commissioner of Police, in the state, John Mbu, in a telephone interview with our correspondent said, “We also heard the rumour just like you heard it.
“It is true that we heard that a lawmaker was shot but the matter was not reported to us.”
