By Kehinde Okeowo
Dare-devil armed robbers struck on Thursday attacking a branch of the United Bank for Africa located at Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore local government area of Ondo State .
Though details of the robbery remain sketchy, an eye witness told TheNiche last night that three people lost their lives.
One of those killed is Olubunmi Afuye, a popular broadcaster with Orange FM in Akure, the state capital.
Others include a policeman and a commercial motorcyclist.
TheNiche is yet to confirm the circumstance that led to Afuye’s murder at the UBA robbery, but the Ondo State branch of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday declared seven days of mourning for their fallen colleague.
A statement by Adetona Aderoboye, Chairman, and Leke Adegbite, Secretary, urged security operatives to act fast and apprehend the hoodlums.
“The leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ondo State Council, received today’s gruesome killing of one of our colleagues, Olubunmi Afuye in a bank robbery with grief and disbelief,” the statement read.
“His untimely killing by dare devil armed robbers at Ilaramokin is the highest level of callousness, wickedness and unforgivable act of cutting short life of one of our brightest, cerebral and versatile colleagues.
“It is indeed a case of ‘Sunset at Noon’ in Ondo State journalism fraternity.
“We will surely miss Bunmi’s huge contributions to Ondo NUJ and unionism in the state as he anchored last December’s NUJ Press Week and this year’s Workers’ Day celebrations free of charge while many of our members had benefitted from his media expertise.
“We register our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the wife, children, family, media professionals (especially those at ORANGE FM/OSRC), friends as well as Elizade University, Ilaramokin where Bunmi was recently appointed as the Public Relations Officer, over this irreparable loss.
“We equally condole families and colleagues of the policeman and motorcyclist killed in the bank robbery.
While declaring seven days of mourning in honour of our slain member popularly known as “BUMBAM”,
“Ondo NUJ demands that security operatives should do everything humanly possible to bring the perpetrators of the heinous act to justice within the shortest time.”
Meanwhile, Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has charged security operatives to go after the hoodlums and bring them to book.
A statement by Richard Olatunde, his Chief Press Secretary, said Afuye’s death was a personal loss to the governor.
“The Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN just a few hours ago, received the sad news of the untimely death of Mr Bunmi Afuye,” the statement read.
“According to preliminary reports, Bunmi, who until his demise was a Public Relations Officer at the Elizade University, Ilaramokin, was shot by armed robbers who were robbing a bank in the town.
“Mr Governor is touched by this dastardly act that has cost the Journalism profession a bright and upcoming star.
“He was particularly close to us; we all admired his candour and carriage, especially his brilliant delivery at functions he compered that we had reasons to grace. His demise is not just painful. It is very pathetic and unbearable.
“Governor Akeredolu expresses his heartfelt condolences to the wife and children, family, the University community as well as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over this loss that he considers a personal one.
“Meanwhile, a specific directive has been given by the Governor that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are apprehended and brought to book in the shortest possible time.”
As at the time of going to press, UBA was yet to react to the incident which sources in Ondo said was one robbery too many in their branches.
