EKOTRUST 12-year-old boy escapes death from gunshot

A12-year-old boy, Venzan Qudus, escaped death yesterday at AbaOyo, along Idi-Igba road, Olorunda, in Lagelu Local Government, Oyo State, after surviving a bullet that a friend of his father had allegedly fired at him while testing a bullet repellent charm.

Eko Trust learnt that the boy’s father, Daniel Qudus, a palm-wine tapper, had instructed his friend, Akinyemi Akinlolu, to shoot his son to test the efficacy of a newly acquired local gun.

An eyewitness, who wouldn’t give her name for fear of police invitation, told our correspondent that the tapper, who was said to be a native of Cotonou, Benin Republic, had called out his son for Akinlolu to test the charm on his body.

She said the boy was shot in the head as his mother watched her husband pull the trigger.

A resident of the village, who identified himself as Mr Gbadebo, also said, “This morning, we all rushed to the village when we heard that the Cotonou man (Baba Egun) killed his son while testing his charm on him. We met the boy in a pool of blood, while his father was crying profusely.

“A few minutes later, some policemen arrived and took him away, with all the people in his shop. As we speak, all the residents here who are from Cotonou have fled.”

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi, told our correspondent that the suspect had been arrested.

Fadeyi said, “It was a case of attempted murder. One Venzan Qudus, aged 12 years, was shot with a dane gun on his cheek and hand by one Akinyemi Akinlolu, 44, on the instruction and presence of his father, one Daniel Qudus, while testing the efficacy of a traditional newly acquired bullet repellent charm. Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the case. The victim has been transferred to the UCH for treatment.”