A policeman on Friday afternoon allegedly shot dead a 32-year-old businessman, Yemi Ajayi, at the Iwo Road interchange, Ibadan, Oyo State.
A witness, who pledged anonymity, told journalists that some policemen drove to the scene of the incident in a Nissan Micra car and stopped the car being driven by the deceased cousin, Kayode Atanda.
Kayode and the late Ajayi were said to be on their way to work in a Toyota Camry car.
The source said that before the driver, who had slowed down, could clear off the highway, one of the policemen started struggling with him over the steering wheel.
According to him, as the driver was trying to get out of the car, the policeman shot him on the arm and the bullet hit the stomach of the deceased sitting beside him.
“I was here when the incident happened. He was about to open the car door when the drunken police officer shot him.
“All the three police officers were drunk. I think government needs to put end to this unreasonable killing,” the eyewitness said.
An elder brother to the victim, Sola Ajayi, told newsmen that the deceased was the bread winner of the family.
He said Yemi’s death had created vacuum in the family, especially in the life of their aged mother.
The older Ajayi said that when the family heard about the unfortunate incident, they went to the testing ground police station to confirm, but saw only their vehicle.
“It was only Kayode Atanda, our cousin, who was rushed to the University Teaching Hospital (UCH) for treatment that we met in the hospital. I pray the arm will not be amputated,” he said.
He said that the whereabout of the corpse of his brother was unknown to the family, adding that police had abandoned the wounded Atanda at UCH.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Olugbenga Fadeyi, who confirmed the incident, said the Police Command had begun investigation into the matter.
“A team from the Area Command Police (ACPOL), Agodi, who were on routine patrol at Iwo road interchange on July 10 at about 12:15 p.m stopped a Toyota Camry car which was alleged to have refused to stop.
“In the process, one of the policemen fired a shot which hit one Adeyemi ‘m’ in the stomach and he was rushed to police hospital, Agodi, for treatment but was later confirmed dead by the medical personnel.
“Investigation has commenced into the incident, “Fadeyi said.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Police Command has arrested the policeman who allegedly killed a motorcyclist at Banana Junction in Orlu Local Government Area.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Orlando Ikokwu, confirmed the arrest in a statement in Owerri on Friday.
Although he did not reveal the identity of both the victim and the police man, he said the Commissioner of Police has ordered a full investigation into the matter.
He assured residents that justice would be done in the matter after the investigation.
A policeman, on Thursday, allegedly shot and killed a motorcyclist at Banana Junction over alleged non-compliance to nose mask wearing.
The situation caused serious riot in the area, leading to attack on some policemen.
The statement read: “The attention of the command has been drawn to the shooting of a motorcyclist (name yet unknown) by a Police officer in Orlu metropolis, which resulted to the death of the cyclist and the matcheting of one Sergeant Awusu Henry, which has resulted to riots and civil unrest around the metropolis.
”The Commissioner of Police, Imo state, Isaac Akinmoyede, has ordered full scale investigation into the matter, with a view to unraveling the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.
“However the officer responsible for the shooting has been arrested and taken into custody.
“The Command while regretting and condemning this unethical and unprofessional infraction, wish to assure members of the public that justice will be done in this matter.
“The Command, therefore, urge all Imolites, especially the people of Orlu and environs, to remain calm as no stone will be left unturned in the quest to ensure that justice is done”.
