The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the assassination of Demola Akinloye, the first son of the Ojomu of Ajiran land, Tijani Akinloye. The incident, which occurred on Monday along Chevron Drive in the Lekki area of Lagos State, has left the community in a state of shock and fear.
The attack took place around 12:30 pm when Demola, aged 50, was driving his black Toyota Corolla near the Bourdillon Court Estate gate. According to the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, four armed men in a white minibus ambushed Demola, shooting and stabbing him to death.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that the gunmen deliberately rammed their vehicle into Demola’s car. When he stepped out to assess the damage, they attacked him, leaving him to bleed on the spot. Panic ensued as bystanders fled for safety.
Following the assassination, a notice was issued by the management of a local estate, urging residents to avoid the Chevron, Agungi, and Ajiran areas for their safety. “The Ajiran king’s son was assassinated today along Chevron Drive. We plead with residents to avoid the area for now,” the notice read.
The police have recovered one expended cartridge from the scene, and Demola’s body has been transported to a morgue in Ajah for preservation and autopsy. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yaba for further investigation.
Speculation about the motive behind the killing has emerged, with some residents suggesting that it may be linked to a struggle for the throne, although these claims remain unverified. “He was the heir to the throne. There are rumors that those eyeing the throne could be behind the attack, even though his father is still alive,” said a source close to the community.
A member of the royal family, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed the family’s deep grief. “We were shocked to hear the news. Demola was deeply loved by his father and bore a striking resemblance to him. The entire palace is in mourning, and the king has stopped attending to visitors,” the family member said.
The tragic incident has cast a pall over the Ajiran community as investigations continue to uncover the perpetrators behind the brutal attack.
