Suspected cultists Monday shot dead a car wash operator in Ilorin, Kwara state.

The incident led to confusion in Ilorin especially among residents of Ibrahim Taiwo road in Ilorin.

The late Bayo Ajia was in 2004 sentenced to death by an Ilorin High court over a murder case involving him and one other which he appealed at the Court of Appeal and was subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court.

He was, however, granted state pardon by the immediate past administration in the state.

The gruesome murder of Ajia reportedly took place along Ibrahim Taiwo road, Ilorin where his car wash business was located.

The assailants said to be four in number reportedly went to under the bridge close to the State Stadium complex, where the deceased was operating a car wash and shot him on his forehead.

An eye witness said that the suspected cultists believed to have come from one of the states in the south-west, also inflicted matchet cuts on the deceased after shooting him.

The cultists were said to have arrived the deceased’s workshop in a taxi cab around 4:15 pm and went immediately to meet Ajia who was said to be alone in his shop.

The incident led to traffic gridlock as the ever busy Taiwo road was closed to traffic.

The deceased who was survived by four wives and many children, was buried Monday amidst wailings by his associates and sympathizers at the Muslim cemetery, Irewolede in the metropolis.

The state police command spokesman Ajayi Okansanmi did not confirm the incident.

He said he had not received full details of the circumstances leading to the killing of the deceased.