Members of the family of a 35-year-old Ogun State-based hunter, Olasunkanmi Olakiye, are currently grieving after he was accidentally shot dead by one of his co-hunters while they were on a hunting expedition in a bush in the Odeda area of the state on April 20.
Punch reports that the incident threw the Egba Hunters Association, a group the deceased belonged to, into confusion. The group’s leader, Alao Yusuf, said the information gathered showed that he was accidentally shot by a team member when they were making attempts to kill an antelope in the bush. He said the deceased was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead. He said although the incident was reported at a police station, the family of the deceased decided not to press charges.
“I was told that they went to the bush for hunting and that the antelope that was shot died but the bullet hit Olakiye. Immediately, they said that he was rushed to the hospital but that before they got there, he was already dead. The matter was reported at the Odeda Police Station and even Olakiye’s brothers were part of the hunting expedition. Olakiye’s family decided not to press charges because they said it was an accidental discharge that claimed the life of their kinsman.”he said
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said an investigation by the police showed it was a case of accidental discharge.
“I am aware of the matter. All of them are hunters. One of them shot at an animal and the bullet hit one of their members (Olakiye). They reported the matter at the Odeda Police Station. We investigated and discovered that it was a case of an accidental discharge. The family of the dead man said they would not press charges since it was not a case of intentional killing. But we did our work properly and we are still on the matter. As we speak, an investigation on the matter is on.”he said