An official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, was on Monday night gunned down by gunmen suspected to be robbers.
The victim, Marcus Olatunji, who was armed, was shot in front of one of the private residences of the Ooni as he made to go out to buy airtime at a nearby kiosk, Vanguard quoted an un-named palace source as saying.
The robbers who shot him were believed to be coming from an operation, and made away with the victim’s rifle.
Some of his colleagues who were inside the building rushed out when they heard the shot, but it was too late as the gunmen had escaped, witnesses said.
Confirming the incident, the Head of Public Relations of the Corps in the state, Mr. Wale Folarin, said the victim died at the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife.
He said: “It is true one of our officers attached to the Ooni’s palace was shot dead by some unidentified persons in front of a private residence of the Ooni. The killers went away with his gun. He died at the teaching hospital, Ife.
“We have arrested three suspects in connection with the crime and investigations continue as the command will get to the root of the matter.”