By Tola Gbadamosi & Adekola Afolabi
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The Ipogun community in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo state was on Friday thrown into mourning, following the death of a 26-year-old student, Benjamin Falusi, who was allegedly shot dead by the suspected thugs of a senatorial candidate in the town.

The Hope Metro gathered that the deceased was hit by a stray bullet, while two others sustained serious injuries during the campaign of a political party.

It was learnt that consequently, the angry people of the community went on rampage, and set two cars ablaze over the sudden death of the deceased

Falusi, a 26-year-old OND holder, was reportedly gunned down by a suspected thug on the campaign train of a House of Representatives candidate of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP), for Idanre/Ifedore Federal constituency, Alhaji Tajudeen Adefisoye.

Investigations revealed that, one Bode Oguntoye, a member of the SDP attacked the Alhaji’s team. And while trying to stop him, the security of the campaign train opened fire.

It was indeed, a sad moment for the 93-year-old father of the deceased,  Mr James Falusi, who was said to have been  sick for 14years.

Speaking with The Hope Metro, the old man broke down and cried, while narrating his  last moments with  bhis oy whom he described as his support system.

In a laden voice, amidst tears, the aged man said, “Benjamin was eating with his friends, when they hurriedly went out to meet up with  the school’s Inter-house sports activities.

“Benjamin was my 13th child, out of 15 children and I have always been proud of him in everything he did.

He had always been a quiet young man with high prospect.

Now I am witnessing his death. I had hoped  he would soon have a family of his own. Now in a twinkle of an eye, he is gone.

Also, the mother of the deceased Mrs Florence Falusi, who spoke with deep pain, recounted her last moments with her son saying, “I had told  him to help me get the food of the goats when I was going out.

 “He made the soup the previous day and said he was using it to eat rice. Before I came back,  he had made the rice and was eating.

“At about 3pm, while the sun was hot, I went visiting some of my friends hoping that Benjamin would soon be back. Someone just ran to me and told me my own son had been shot in the house. I started crying and wanted to jump inside the well.

Meanwhile, the Ondo state government has sounded a note of warning to those who may want to cause violence before, during and after the Saturday’s February 16 and March 2 general elections in the state.

The state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, gave the warning at the weekend during his condolence visit to the parents of Benjamin Falusi who was shot dead in Ipogun community, Ifedore Local Government Area by a suspected thug during a political rally.

Akeredolu who was represented by the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun, commiserated with the nonagenarian father and mother of the decease over what he called sudden death of the youngster.

He expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident and prayed God to give the family of the departed soul the fortitude to bear the great loss. The governor representative betrayed emotion during the visit as he burst into tears while struggling to hold back his tears.

Father of the deceased, James Falusi, who appreciated the governor for his concern equally appealed to him to provide adequate security in the community before, during and after the general elections to ensure the security of lives and property of the citizenry.

 During the visit, Oleyelogun met with Adapogun of Ipogun, Oba Raphael Ojo and various chiefs in the community where he appealed to them on the need to always talk to the youth in the community to eschew violence and be law-abiding before  during and after the general elections.

He emphasised that the governor of the state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, was not happy with the incident, saying that the governor has said he would no longer tolerate such in any part of the state, saying that steps are being taken to forestall future occurrence.

In separate reactions, the Adapogun of Ipogun, Oba Raphael Ojo and the Odopetu of Ipogun, High Chief Ilemobayo Jacob, passionately appealed to the government to provide maximum security in the community for the safety of the residents before, during and after the general elections.