The joy of every parent is that their children should live longer than them. But this was not the case of the family of Mr and Mrs Babafemi Ojo, who lost their eldest daughter, Mrs. Oluwadamilola Fajana-nee Ojo recently to a stray-bullet during a fracas between suspected Oil Vandals in Arepo and members of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) at Arepo area in Ogun State.
As a promising child, late Damilola, attended St. Louis primary school in Akure, Ondo state before moving to the Federal Government College (FGC) in Akure and proceeded to the University of Ado Ekiti for her degree where she bagged a second class Upper in law before she proceeded to law school.
Before she was caught up by the untimely death, the victim, who got married last year and was carrying a six months old pregnancy was known to be a humble lady.
When DAILY POST visited late Damilola’s parents’ residence at Oke-Aro in Akure, the Ondo State Capital, the entire members of the family were in deep mourning mood.
In a sad mood and plucky heart of bitterness, Mr. Ojo introduced members of his family, starting from his bereaved wife, Mrs. Ronke, down to the siblings of late Oluwadamilola, who were depressed over the tragedy of their lovely daughter and sister.
Shortly after the introduction, not even a word of consolation could stop the bereaved mother of Oluwadamiloa, Mrs. Ronke Ojo, a prominent leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State from crying and wailing over the killing of her daughter at the prime of her career.
However, narrating the incident surrounding the incident, Mr. Andrew Ojo who looked weak and dejected, said the family was thrown into mourning following the killing of their lovely daughter at the start of his career.
Mr. Ojo said the life of Oluwadamilola was cut short during a pandemonium and a gun duel between the Oodua peoples Congress (OPC) and some suspected oil pipeline vandals in Arepo area of Ogun state.
“My daughter was murdered in the feud between the ethnic militia of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and some Oil pipeline vandals in Arepo at Obafemi Owode area of Ogun state.
“They killed Oluwadamilola after she had left her husband in the hospital around 3 am to bring some cloths for him. Her husband was sick and indisposed, she had to care for him, but unfortunately she lost her life to the ugly incident in Arepo as she was cut down by the bullet of the OPC and the vandals”, he said tearfully.
He also recounted how his late daughter, a graduate of law from the prestigious University of Ado Ekiti (UNAD) now Ekiti State University (EKSU), was nurtured and given the best education she deserved through thick and thin.
Mr. Ojo, a trained journalist by profession but now into event planning and outdoor services blamed President Goodluck Jonathan over the death of her daughter, adding that Oluwadamilola would not have died if the president hadn’t given the responsibilities of security to touts.
“President Goodluck Jonathan is culpable and has hand in the death of my daughter. He shouldn’t have taken the constitutional duties of the security officers in Nigeria and give it to an ordinary Nigerians made up of touts and miscreants to watch over the oil pipeline when they are not even given the proper training in the handling of arms and ammunitions.
“I want to correct the abnormal and insane talk that the OPC were at the location in Arepo as a result of the contract given to them by President Goodluck Jonathan. Honestly, this is not right to me because as a Nigerian, having a child under this situation, I have a right to speak on whatever the president might have done rightly or wrongly.
“If you watch an amateur video released on the internet, you would see how these miscreants were behaving by shooting sporadically, destroying goods and killing people wantonly without anyone checkmating their activities just because the president has given them a contract to protect a Oil pipeline.
“Even though, they are to protect the oil pipelines, can’t they go into the creeks and stay where they were posted rather than coming to the major town, shooting and killing people unjustly. This is sad and highly ridiculous because my daughter and unborn child cannot be brought back to life,” he said angrily.
He called for justice on the death of her daughter and the unborn child, noting that the killers must be found and prosecuted for the crime committed.
“I want the people that killed my child to be prosecuted and brought to book. They should be arraigned in court to face the music of the crime perpetrated. I want justice for my daughter. I want those who killed my daughter and stopped my child at the prime of her life
“I want the contract of the OPC to be revoked. I want the death of my child to be like a change agent that would stop the killings of other Nigerians murdered in this country unjustly.
Also speaking in a tender voice, late Oluwadamilola’s mother, Mrs. Ronke Ojo described her daughter as gentle and brilliant, adding that she was really loved by the family.
“My lovely daughter was very gentle, humble, and lovely. She could not even hurt a fly. If you had come her way, you would know better. Even her classmates in primary and secondary school know her well. They use to nickname her in higher institution has ‘exco’ because she was always reading her bible.
“Oluwadamilola was reserved and humble. I will miss the coolness, and the advise she always give me. She was always grateful for everything you give her. She would appreciate everything around her. Honestly, my late daughter had been a good moderator, a pillar in this house and the family”.
The family however called for immediate justice.
It was gathered that the late Oluwadamilola got married in February 21, 2014 to Prince Bukayo Fajana, a native of Oke-Agbe Akoko, in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo state. Her husband graduated from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) as an Engineer and works with Cadbury Nigeria plc.
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