Suspected political thugs with alleged ties to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijede, a Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu, Lagos State, have reportedly killed former chairmanship aspirant Oluwatosin Onamade.
According to sources, a group of attackers ambushed Onamade on Saturday, shooting and attacking him with machetes.
A family member disclosed that he had been targeted for years due to his strong reputation for accountability and community service, which made him a significant contender for the APC chairmanship.
Onamade had previously survived an assassination attempt in 2021 while running for the same position under the APC.
Confirming the attack, a family source recounted, “I received a call, and when I arrived at the scene, I found that he had been shot and brutally attacked with machetes. The police recovered at least five cartridges from the area.”
The source further claimed that four years ago, an APC leader had sent thugs after Onamade. “They shot him, but he managed to escape. Unfortunately, one of his domestic staff members was killed. I was also attacked and left in a coma for 16 days. Since then, my brother was under constant surveillance. He took legal action against the attackers, and 17 people were implicated.”
According to the source, after the primary suspect was arrested and charged, he refused to plead guilty, allegedly receiving support from an APC chieftain to fight the case.
“In November 2024, before the courts went on recess, the APC leader proposed negotiating a settlement with my brother. However, he refused, questioning how someone involved in a murder could be freed so easily. He wanted justice, even when pressured by influential figures, including the Inspector General of Police, who also suggested a settlement,” the source explained.
Following his refusal to compromise, Onamade reportedly remained a target until his assassination on Saturday.
Lagos State Police Command spokesperson SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that an investigation into the killing is underway.
