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KILLED BY A MOB • Mistaken for car thief
From Lanre Sorinke, Ado-Ekiti


The sun has set suddenly for a 28-year-old photographer in Ekiti State, who was murdered in cold blood by a mob that took him for a car thief.
Sola Adebowale was killed on February 5, in the state capital, Ado Ekiti after a friend allegedly fingered him as a robber.
The victim, who had spent all night at a party with his friend, was attacked with machete and the assailants did not stop, even though he was crying and pleading his innocence, until he took his last breath.
Events leading to the death of Adebowale had started like a child’s play as the two friends had earlier visited the shop of the victim’s mother at about 10pm to collect beer and some fried meat, which they took to the party.
And it was all right until Adebowale said he wanted to go home. After much persuasion, his friend, who was identified as a former councillor in Ado-Ekiti local government, took him in his car.
But, instead of taking Adebowale where he wanted to go, they ended up in the friend’s house, with the man giving assurance that after resting for a while, he would take his pal home.
When it appeared that the promise would not be fulfilled, Adebowale forced his friend to part with the car’s key and he tried to drive himself home.
It was that attempt that triggered a chain of disaster for Adebowale, who ended up smashing the car against the fence, as he tried to reverse on his way out. Hearing the noise from the crash, the friend allegedly dashed out and began to shout that his car was being stolen. The alarm he had raised attracted the night guards and some residents who were said to have descended on Adebowale.
Those who knew the deceased described him as a cool headed, humble and hard working young man. While his friend was being beaten, the ex-councillor was said to have rushed to the Oke-Isha Police Station to report that a thief had been caught trying to steal his car.
After visiting the scene and taking the body of the victim to the station, the police conducted an investigation that led to the arrest and detention of the complainant.
Grief-stricken, Adebowale’s mother could say nothing when Daily Sun visited her home. The body of her son has since been deposited at the mortuary of a specialist hospital.

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