Sources close to Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) organising secretary Toba Ajiboye, popularly known as Toba Ijaya, have alleged that the 43-year-old was betrayed by someone he trusted and had paid before he was shot dead along the Ikorodu Road corridor.
It was learnt that a bricklayer simply identified as Oke, who had previously handled construction work for Ajiboye, allegedly acted as an informant on the day of the killing.
Detectives subsequently arrested Oke and his wife on the night following the assassination. Two other suspects have also reportedly been identified in connection with the incident.
A source familiar with the circumstances surrounding the incident said Oke was at the scene when Ajiboye stopped to visit some elderly people and parked his vehicle outside on that Sunday.
The source alleged that Oke went beyond merely being present in the vicinity, as he reportedly took photographs of both the front and rear of Ajiboye’s vehicle before sending the images to people said to have been waiting on the expressway.
“He also sent a voice note informing them that Toba was alone with his driver and would soon come out. Toba came out and even gave him N5,000, not knowing that he was there to monitor him,” the source said.
The source further told Saturday PUNCH that the interrogation of Oke after his arrest enabled investigators to uncover more details about the circumstances surrounding the killing, including the identity of another suspect.
“They also identified another person called Ogere, who participated, but he has fled,” the source added.
Toba Ijaya: Two suspects remain at large
In addition to Oke and his wife, another individual identified as Suko has allegedly been linked to the incident, with reports indicating that he provided financial support for part of the operation. Saturday PUNCH learnt that Suko has reportedly left Nigeria.
The assassination has once again brought attention to persistent concerns over violence associated with motor park politics in Lagos, as well as the organised networks that sources claim operate behind the scenes within union activities.
