A naval officer, identified simply as Akingbagbohun, has been killed by armed thugs in Idoani, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Peoples Gazette gathered, on Tuesday, that the officer who was driving into the community was attacked by the thugs over a minor disagreement before he was left unconscious.

The deceased, until his gruesome killing, was attached to the Navy Secondary School in Imeri – a town close to Idoani.

An eyewitness, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, told The Gazette that the killing of the officer has got the residents worried.

The witness said the colleagues of the deceased have allegedly threatened to avenge his gruesome death.

He explained that the youths in the community have also fled into the bush over the fear of random arrest.

“The officer was unconscious and rushed to the hospital in the community after the attack but he gave up the ghost before getting there and was confirmed dead on arrival by the doctor.

“Now, the community is empty as I speak as everyone is leaving in drove, especially the youths, over the fear of reprisal attack and random killings,” he said.

The Gazette gathered that shops and markets in the community had been shut down as colleagues of the deceased were said to have stormed the area in search of the killers on Tuesday morning.

Dennis Adekunle, the chairman of Ose LGA, has also condemned the violent attack and gruesome killing of the naval rating.

Mr Adekunle, in a statement, called for calm in the Idoani community over the killing of the officer.

He, however, assured the school authority of the cooperation of the council and community in dousing the tension.

Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the spokesperson for the Police in Ondo, confirmed the incident in a short statement issued to journalists in Akure, the state capital.

Mrs Odunlami-Omisanya, said the naval officer was mobbed to death by thugs numbering about six over an altercation, noting that the case was reported to the police by a colleague of the deceased, Sunday Olaoluwa.

“Six men led by one Oyinbo mob the victim over an altercation that arose from a minor motorcycle-pedestrian accident. The suspects used iron and plank to beat the victim.

“The victim was taken to the General Hospital, Idoani, where he was confirmed dead. The suspects are currently at large.

“But we are after them and they shall be arrested and prosecuted according to the offence committed,” she added.

Recall that a naval rating, serving at the Lagos Logistics Depot of the Nigerian Navy, was killed by unknown gunmen in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State.