By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the killing of Olajide Sowore, the younger brother of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
This is as Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, assured on Saturday that he will join forces with other stakeholders to mount pressure on security agents to bring the murderers to justice.
Olajide, a 50-year-old pharmacy student of Igbinedion University, Edo State, was killed on Saturday morning by unknown gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
His elder brother, Omoyele, broke the news this morning.
Confirming the story, Edo Police spokesman, Kontongs Bello, said Olajide was killed by kidnappers around 6 am on Saturday.
“This is to confirm to you that suspected kidnappers at about 0645hrs along the Lagos-Benin Expressway by Isuwa kidnapped five unidentified persons and in the process shot to death one Sowore Felix Olajide, male, a Pharmacy student of Igbinedion University Okada.
“His remains have been deposited at IUTH Mortuary Okada while effort is ongoing to rescue the five kidnap victims. Search and rescue operation is ongoing.”
Keyamo, in a statement on Saturday, said it was sad that such a young man as Olajide was cut down in his prime.
He promised to join forces with other stakeholders to mount pressure on security agents to bring his killers to justice.
“I read with deep sadness the reports on the senseless killing of your younger brother, Mr. Jide Sowore, a student of pharmacy at Igbinedion University, Okada, in Edo State, this morning,” the minister wrote in a condolence statement to Omoyele.
“It is quite sad and regrettable that such a young man would be cut down in his prime by criminal elements.
“Myself and other compatriots would be pressurising the law-enforcement agents to track down these killers without delay and bring them to justice. This, and many others around the country, must be checkmated with all arsenals at our disposal.
“I urge you to take heart and remain committed to helping the nation find a lasting solution to some of these numerous challenges.”