Assassins killed Akure doctor, set body ablaze — Family

The family of Dr. David Akintayo Oguntuase, Head of Pediatrics at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, who was found dead on his clinic in Akure, Ondo State, after it was razed by fire in the eve of Christmas, has said the medical practitioner was murdered.

The Universal Medical Clinic owned by Oguntuase was in flames when residents were in festive mood and by the time the bellows of fire and smoke died down, Dr. Oguntuase was found dead.

While the police in Ondo are still examining the different theories to unravelling the cause of the fire, the deceased’s family has concluded that the medical practitioner was killed by assassins and burnt to give a semblance of a fire accident.

The older brother of the deceased, Ben Oguntuase, in a statement made available to our correspondent on Friday, said, a thorough examination of the debris of the hospital and the site of the incident revealed trails left behind by the murderers and how they accomplished the dastardly act.

“They shot him in the main clinic area and carried his body to the room in the back area where they left him face down. Not done, they severed his hands and legs before proceeding to douse the body with petrol.

“The rest of the building on the inside was sprinkled with petrol before it was all set ablaze. It inferno made the building implode as the roof caved in,” the senior Oguntuase said.

He noted that the fire did not affect other surrounding buildings, suggesting that the killing was professionally plotted and executed.

Explaining the premise on which his theory was based, Oguntuase said the walls of the clinic were stained with blood showing that his brother was attacked and dragged to the place where he was eventually burnt.

He also explained that the walls of the fence showed marks of the feet of the assailants as they climbed to escape through the fence, and that the keg with which they brought petrol was left behind at their exit point.

“This case has gone beyond mere speculation into the realm of reality as to where the police should focus their searchlight to unearth the criminals and their sponsor,” he said.

Oguntuase also rejected the theories of suicide or fire accident caused by a gas explosion, saying the doctor’s body was dismembered before it was set ablaze. He added that there was enough evidence at the crime scene to assist the investigation of the police.

He said the family called on the police to investigate the matter.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Wole Ogodo, said although the command had yet to get a full briefing on the development, the family would be required to come up with substantial evidences supporting their position.

“The family will come up with the evidences they have and we can assure you that we will bring the fellow involved to book. Once we get the necessary information, we will not hesitate to do our part,” Ogodo said.