- The incident cast a dark cloud of apprehension on the community as residents were consumed by fear and uncertainty.
The killing of prince Akinloye Demola in Lagos has been confirmed by the police in the State.
Demola was the first son of Ojomu of Ajiran land, Tijani Akinloye.
Within Nigeria had earlier reported that Demola was gunned down by some unknown assailants on Monday along Chevron Drive, Lekki area of State.
The incident cast a dark cloud of apprehension on the community as residents were consumed by fear and uncertainty.
A notice sent to our correspondent from the management of an estate in the community urged residents to avoid the Chevron, Agungi, and Ajiran areas.
The statement read, “This is to notify all residents that Ajiran (Agungi) king’s son was assassinated today along Chevron Drive (close to Ebeano Supermarket) this morning.
“We therefore plead to our esteemed residents to avoid the Chevron area, Agungi and Ajiran for now for their safety.”
The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the police the killing occurred around 12:30 pm.
According to him, a distress call was received at the police station in the area that the man “later identified as Demola Akinloye, aged 50 years, was attacked along Chevron Drive, Lekki.”
He said the attack took place while the deceased was driving in his black Toyota Corolla near Bourdillon Court Estate gate.
He revealed that “four armed men driving in a white minibus shot and stabbed him to death.
“The scene had been visited, one expended cartridge was recovered while the corpse had been moved to a morgue, in Ajah, Lagos State for preservation and autopsy.”
He added that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for further investigation.
A resident in the community who spoke in confidence owing to the sensitivity of the incident said the gunmen deliberately hit the deceased’s vehicle and attacked him when he stepped out to assess the damage to his car.
“When the bus hit his vehicle, it was at the point of coming out to check his car that the gunmen attacked him. This made people who were present at the scene to run for cover. The gunmen left him bleeding on the spot after the attack,” the resident disclosed.
Another source told Punch that the attack was not unconnected to royal tussle, adding that it was carried out by those “eyeing the throne,” a claim Within Nigeria cannot independently authenticate its veracity.
“He is the heir to the throne. The news around the community is that the act was carried out by those eyeing the throne, even though his father is still alive,” the source who craved anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident said.
A member of the family who does not want his name in print as he was not authorised to speak on the matter said the family had been thrown into mourning due to the incident.
He said, “We were shocked to receive the news of the incident. This was a child the father loved so dearly and pampered. He also had a striking semblance with him. If you see him, then you have seen the king. The mood in the palace now is not okay at all. Both the king and members of the family have stopped attending to people for now.”