Police probe Ogun hunter’s death

The Ogun State Police Command says it has begun an investigation into the death of a hunter found in a forest with bullet wounds in the Ijebu Igbo area of the state.

The spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a telephone conversation with PUNCH Metro on Monday.

Omolola had earlier told our correspondent that a hunter simply identified as Femi was found dead with bullet wounds after he had reportedly gone hunting with Taoreed.

She noted that Femi’s delay in returning home had raised concerns with his wife who reported to the village head.

The village head was said to have organised a search party to comb the forest and the search party found Femi’s dead body lying in the forest with bullet wounds on his back.

She said, “On 26/10/2024, one Grace James, a female from Ofemodoko village near Ijebu Igbo reported to the station that on 25/10/2024 at about 1700 hours, her husband, Femi, now deceased, went hunting with an individual known as Taoreed aka Kokoro, but failed to return to their village.

“About 0700 hours on 26/10/2024, his disappearance was brought to the attention of the village head who then organised a search with local hunters. During the search, the body of Femi was found in the forest showing bullet wounds on his back with his gun lying on the ground next to him.”

Upon the discovery of Femi’s body, efforts were made to locate Taoreed who had gone hunting with Femi but it was discovered that he had fled the community alongside his wife and children.

“Suspicion was raised when it was discovered that Taoreed, who had gone hunting with the deceased, had fled the village with his wife and children.”

The PPRO in a follow-up conversation on Monday later noted that a manhunt had begun for the suspect.

“We have commenced investigation into the matter and we are on the trail of the suspect,” Odutola said.

On June 3 that a hunting expedition in a forest at Pakoyi, via Owode Ketu, Yewa North Local Government Area of the state ended in tragedy as a hunter, Sunday Ijiola, was allegedly shot dead by a colleague, Atanda Agbobiado.

It was further gathered that the 15 hunters who ventured into the forest to hunt had separated themselves to keep prey from escaping.

According to a police source, the deceased was reportedly mistaken for the beer they were pursuing in the forest.