Three individuals were killed over the weekend in Ilorin's Oja Gbooro area following an attack on a scrap dealer lured into a trap by suspected assassins.

The victim, identified as Sampsodeen Awwal, a scrap dealer in his early 30s, was allegedly approached by four suspects who claimed to have a buyer for his goods. They lured him into a tricycle before opening fire, resulting in his death. Two others were also killed in the incident.

He was shot on the head at a close range afterwards and left in the pool of his blood.

Two other victims, a suya vendor and a lady hit by the stray bullet, were said to have died at the facility they were rushed to for treatment.

The incident happened around 8:30 pm, it was gathered.

According to a witness, "His assailants first shot him on the leg and blasted a bullet on his head after he fell on the ground."

One of his neighbours, Mr Mohammed, told Daily Trust that, "He is an indigene of Kebbi State and recently returned to Kwara after he traveled for the last Sallah.

"After he received the call, he went to withdraw some money for the expected purchase and rushed to Oja Gbooro after the Ishai prayers, where he was killed. The suspects only went away with his small phone and left the money. He is survived by a young wife and two children and his mother had arrived from their hometown."

In a telephone chat with our correspondent on Sunday, spokeswoman for the state police command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the killing.

She said "Investigations are still ongoing to determine whether it's a cult related case. But we suspect it's not assassination because the killers went away with his small phone, they used to communicate with him."