Policeman kills wife, five others, commits suicide

A policeman attached to the Ogun State Police Command, Corporal Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi, went on the rampage on Thursday in Abeokuta, killing six people, including his wife and a two-year-old child. Ogunbiyi, who worked at the State Criminal Investigation Department, was said to be having matrimonial problems with his wife Oluwatosin Faremi, who was also a police corporal attached to Obantoko Police Division, Abeokuta. Residents of the area said the policeman had been accusing his wife of infidelity. It was learnt that Oluwatosin had packed out of her matrimonial home along with the couple’s two children to the apartment of their landlady after another round of such accusation. PUNCH Metrogathered that Ogunbiyi, on learning about the whereabouts of his wife, stormed the landlady’s residence around 7.50am at 67, Ifelodun Street, Obantoko, Abeokuta and opened fire on his wife. He was also said to have shot and killed the landlady, her two-year-old child, the motorcycle rider that took him to the house and two others. Three other tenants of the house sustained gunshot injuries during the incident. He, however, spared his children, who were also in the house. After completing his mission, Ogunbiyi was said to have turned the gun on himself and taken his life. Spokesman for the Ogun command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident. He said, “The unfortunate incident occurred this morning, Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 7.58am when the said corporal, who had been having domestic conflicts with his wife, shot and killed six persons with his rifle. “They included his wife, Woman Corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, the landlady in the house, a two-year-old girl, two males and one female. “Three other persons sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba Abeokuta. The corporal, having killed these persons, shot himself dead immediately.” Adejobi said the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Ikemefuna Okoye, described the incident as unfortunate, and had visited the scene of the crime with other senior police officers in the command to assess the situation and sympathise with the relations of the deceased. “The command has commenced a thorough forensic investigation into the killing and promised to make sure justice is done in the matter. “The commissioner of police, however, appeals to the public to treat the incident as one of the unfortunate social mishaps and not to judge the police with the incident. The police is committed to the protection of lives and property and will not tolerate any act capable of trampling on fundamental human rights of the citizens,” Adejobi said. Copyright PUNCH.