Army school commandant murdered in Ibadan

December 13, 2016

The school gate Photo: File

Olufemi Atoyebi, Ibadan

The Commandant of the Command Secondary School, Ibadan, Oyo State, Col. Anthony Okeyim, was on Monday found dead in his apartment on the school premises.

Some of those who were close to the deceased said he was stranguled by suspected assassins after he was attacked in front of his official quarter.

An unconfirmed report also claimed that Okeyim’s throat was slit by his killers.

The school is located in the secluded Bode Igbo area of Ibadan, which is a border town between Oyo and Ogun states.

Although the property is fenced, the school is largely surrounded by thick forest and there had been reports of encroachment on the land in the past.

The Oyo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, told our correspondent that the police were treating the matter as a suspected case of murder.

“I can confirm to you that the deceased was found dead in front of his apartment around 6.30am on Monday. We are treating it as a case of suspected murder.

“The state Commissioner of Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, visited the school immediately the case was reported.

“Police investigation had started and the investigating team is working with the Military Police investigating team. We have also beefed up security in the area,” he said.

A friend of the late army officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Okenyim was promoted three weeks ago, adding that he was waiting to be decorated with his new rank.

He said, “It is a pity that such a gentleman, who was committed to his duty as a military officer and school commandant, could be killed in a gruesome manner inside a military formation. There are posts mounted by infantry soldiers from the gate of the school and visitors are not allowed except if you have a genuine mission there.

“If the school commandant could be killed in such manner, how safe are the civilian staff and pupils who live in the school? Tony (Okenyim) was only recently promoted to the rank of brigadier in the army and he was waiting to be decorated before he was killed. I pray that investigation into the murder will not be an incomplete one.”