A Police operative has been killed while several others sustained injuries in Oyo following a clash between hoodlums and police operatives at the Moniya Motor Park, Akinyele Local Government Area of Ibadan, the state capital.
According to a press release on Tuesday, 25th April 2023 signed by the Oyo State Police Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifeso, the incident happened on Tuesday while the officers embarked on a Stop and Search around a major black spot.
The PPRO also stated that the police officers were on a mission to stop and check the alleged driver of an SUV car, based on credible intelligence obtained through visible policing duties.
However, the driver of the SUV car refused to comply, leading to a chase by the police officers, which ended at the garage where the hoodlums were waiting.
According to the PPRO, “the hoodlums attacked the officers unprovoked and attempted forcefully dragging a rifle from one of the officers which led to a shot being discharged from the barrel during the process of the struggle.”
He added that the deceased officer paid the ultimate price, suffering a fatal blow to his skull inflicted by one of the hoodlums while preventing them from dispossessing him of his firearm.
The body of the deceased officer has since been deposited at the State Morgue for post-mortem examination, while seven suspects have been arrested, and twelve motorcycles impounded in connection with the incident.
In another development, while re-iterating the Command’s respect and cordiality for the Fourth Members of the Estate of the Realm, the CP has ordered a discreet investigation into circumstances that led to the arrest of Mr. John Alabi, the Oyo State Correspondent of Silverbird Television who was allegedly apprehended by operatives in the heat of the Incident.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (DC SCID) has been assigned to take over the case for detailed investigations.
