PANDEMONIUM broke out at the popular Oje Market in Ibadan on Sunday when police stray bullet hit a civilian (names not ascertained) in the area. The yet-to-be-identified victim reportedly died on the spot.
It was learnt that trouble started as some commercial transporters resisted attempts by some hoodlums to extort motorists.
Our correspondent gathered that the Divisional Police Officer, Agugu Division, Mr Timothy Adedeji (ASP), who was on patrol in the area, went to the scene to quell the fight.
An eyewitness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “Adedeji with two other policeman prevailed on the aggrieved parties to stop fighting.
“After quelling the crisis, the mob started hailing the DCO. The man being an Ibadanman, tried to disperse the mob through persuasion. But when they attempted to attack him, he fired some shots into the air to scare them.
“As he brought his gun down, a shot was fired and the bullet hit a man. The man died. The mob swooped on the two policemen and took the police rifle before bolting away”, the eyewitness recounted.
He said that a team of policemen from Agugu Division came to rescue the duo (policemen that were attacked) and took them to a nearby hospital in the area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Ilobanefor (DSP), said, “The two policemen were rescued from the mob’s attack, but they later regrouped and went to Agugu Division apparently to attack the station. The situation was brought under control through reinforcement.
“The policemen in an Armoured Personnel Carrier that was positioned some metres away from the station to control the mob attack later saw a police rifle with the mob. They pursued the mob which reacted by firing shots at the police.
“The stray bullet from the hoodlums that stole the police gun hit a passerby and unfortunately the person also died. The situation has since been brought under control.
“Presently peace has been restored to the area. The policemen are in the hospital receiving treatment.
“The police command has gone into the matter; we are presently investigating the incidence. If the policemen in question are found to have misused their firearms we have disciplinary measures through which erring policemen are brought to book.
“The command is investigating the case and our investigation would determine what actually happened. Investigation will shed more light but we are assuring the public that no stone would be left unturned towards ensuring that justice prevails”.
