A Nigerian professor at Prairie View A&M University in Houston, Texas, United States, Richard Adeoriokin, met an untimely demise when he was ‘accidentally’ shot during a ceremony in Ejigbo, Osun State. The incident unfolded on Saturday, December 27, 2024, at Ejigbo, marking the 50th coronation anniversary of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin.
The tragic event was confirmed by the late professor’s personal assistant, Afeez Lawal. According to Lawal, the shooting occurred around 8:30 p.m. after Dr. Adeoriokin had attended the anniversary celebration and was invited to the house of the king’s son, Oyeyode. As they were bidding farewell, the son ordered local security to fire gunshots into the air. However, one of the guards unintentionally fired downward, hitting Dr. Richard on his leg. Despite efforts to rush him to the hospital, he succumbed to the loss of blood and passed away at Baptist Hospital Ejigbo.
The local security guard responsible for the accidental shooting was subsequently mobbed to death. In response, Governor Ademola Adeleke ordered an immediate investigation into both the initial killing and the subsequent mob violence in Ejigbo. He expressed condolences to the affected families and urged restraint, dispatching a delegation to the town to ensure calm while investigations continue. Governor Adeleke also emphasized the need for guidelines on the usage of local guns to enhance citizen safety at public functions.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), represented by its state chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, extended condolences to the people of Ejigbo and denounced the extra-judicial killing, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law. The party called for thorough investigations into the incident and expressed sympathy to the Ogiyan, the people of Ejigbo, and the deceased professor’s immediate family.
