From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
One policeman attached to the Moniya Divisional Police Headquarters, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, lost his life yesterday, when some hoodlums clashed with policemen who were said to be chasing a suspected internet fraudster, also known as ‘yahoo-yahoo boy’ at Moniya, the town hosting the secretariat of Akinyele Local Government in the state.
Accounts of the incident obtained from residents of Moniya and the one released by the police varied to certain extent in content.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, Adewale Osifeso, in a statement, yesterday, confirmed the death of the policeman, the arrest of seven people, and seizure of 12 motorcycles, in connection with the incident.
He added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Williams Adebowale, has ordered a discreet investigation into the arrest, beating and detention of a journalist working with Silverbird Television, John Alabi. He was released in the evening, following intervention by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, under the chairmanship of Chief Ademola Babalola.
Alabi said he was arrested by policemen while capturing the incident, adding that he was with his identity card and Silverbird microphone. Lines of dried blood were seen around his right eye after he was released and taken to the hospital for medical attention.
The state police spokesperson said: “Today, being Tuesday, 25/04/2023, at about 10:15hrs, operatives attached to the Moniya Area Command, under the Oyo State Police Command, while on lawful intelligence-led stop-and-search around a major black-spot, were attacked in the line of duty. Preliminary investigation reveals that the patrol team, while acting on credible intelligence through visible policing duties, extended their presence around major black spots, highways and major roads under the Akinyele local government area axis, in a bid to deter criminal elements from settling and establishing dominance within the location.
“In furtherance of the above, the team of operatives on patrol, led by one Inspector Stanley Ikhine, flagged-down an ash coloured Lexus 350 SUV with a faintly inscribed worn-off number, further arousing suspicion from the officers on watch. In the process, the vehicle initially slowed down in compliance with the directive before eventually picking up speed and dashing off to evade the officers on duty. This action led to a chase by the officers, in a bid to establish further clarity of facts.
“A few meters away from the initial stoppage point, the Lexus SUV veered off the road to a nearby garage, driving directly into the waiting hands of hoodlums, who were also collaborators in the criminal process, thereby, not only obstructing the officers from discharging their duties, but as well aiding the escape of the SUV and its occupants. Consequent on the above, 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.
“Sadly, the gallant officer paid the supreme price, suffering a heavy blow to his skull inflicted by one of the hoodlums, while preventing them from dispossessing him of his firearm. The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the state morgue for post-mortem, while seven people have been arrested alongside 12 motorcycles impounded in connection with the incident.”
Osifeso added: “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 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.
“Ultimately, 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. Lastly, residents are advised to go about their lawful businesses without fear of harassment or molestation. Updates would be provided accordingly, please.”
Meanwhile, a resident of the Moniya axis, who identified himself as Sunday Oluranti, said: “I was not at the scene. But I was reliably informed by my friends in Moniya that a team of policemen pursued a yahoo-yahoo guy, driving a Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle 350. They pursued the man from the Ijaiye axis towards Moniya. On getting to the ever-busy Moniya motor park, the man drove to the park, which is by the left. He probably wanted to link the old Ibadan-Oyo Road, via a narrow road behind the park.
“But the policemen caught up with him in the park. He did not stop the car, which caused one of the policemen to fire a gunshot at one of his tires. Somebody told me that the bullet hit the rim of the tire and it was deflected back to the policeman, who fired the shot and the cop died immediately. Another person said when the suspect’s tyre was deflated, he got down from the car and was running away. It was said that a policeman fired at him, but instead of the bullets going to him, they came back to the policeman and killed him. I was told that another policeman also fired at him and, instead, the bullet remotely came back to hit the shooter. But I cannot confirm whether bullets hit some other people as some people claimed. If I tell you that I was told that bullets hit four other people, I know that you journalists will ask me to show you the people.”