Ibadan: Policeman dead, seven persons arrested as Police, hoodlums clash

By Moyosore Salami

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 have been pursuing some suspected Internet fraudster, also known as ‘yahoo-yahoo boys’ at Moniya, the town hosting the secretariat of Akinyele Local Government in the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, a Superintendent of Police (SP), in a statement issued on Tuesday confirmed the death of the policeman, the arrest of seven persons, 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 the 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 he has been taken to the hospital for medical attention.

Osifeso said, “Today, being Monday 25/04/2023 at about 10:15hrs, operatives attached to 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 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 colored Lexus 350 Jeep 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 Jeep 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 been 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 disposessing him off his firearm. The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the state morgue for post-mortem, while seven persons have been arrested alongside 12 motorcycles impounded in connection with the incident.”

Osifeso added, “In another development, while reiterating 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.

“Penultimately, 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 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 Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle 350. They pursued the man from 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, which made one of the policemen to fire gunshot at one of his tyres. Somebody told me that the bullet hit the rim of the tyre and it was deflected back to the policeman, who fired the shot and the cop died immediately.

“Another person also said, when the suspects tyre was deflated, he got down from the car and was running away. It was said that a policeman fired at him, and instead, the bullets did not penetrate him. The bullets 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 are saying.”