ODEDA, Nigeria — A tragic accident left a 35-year-old hunter, Olasunkanmi Olakiye, dead after he was accidentally shot by a fellow hunter during a hunting expedition in the Odeda area of Ogun state on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
The incident has left the Egba Hunters Association, a group to which the deceased belonged, in a state of confusion and mourning.
The group’s leader, Alao Yusuf, confirmed the incident and described it as an accident.
“The information gathered from the group members who were with the deceased showed that he was accidentally shot by a team member when they were making attempts to kill an antelope in the bush,” Yusuf said.
Yusuf expressed regret that despite his colleagues’ efforts to save Olakiye’s life, he was pronounced dead at the hospital where he was rushed to. Although the incident was reported to the police, 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 a hospital immediately, but he was already dead before they got there,” Yusuf recounted.
Alabi Adesina, a member of a vigilante group in the state, also confirmed the incident. “When we heard what happened, we quickly called the police to inform them of the incident. We would always report issues like this because, under the law, nothing of these kinds should be overlooked,” he said.
Abimbola Oyeyemi, the state Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the development on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, and said that the deceased family decided not to press charges. However, the police still carried out their investigation and concluded that 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,” Oyeyemi said.
Despite the family’s decision not to pursue charges, the police say they are still investigating the matter.
