*12 Motorcycles impounded
*Silverbird TV Correspondent arrested
*Investigation ongoing – Police
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
A Police officer was yesterday killed in Moniya area of Ibadan in Akinyele Local Government area of Oyo State during a hot argument with some suspected Yahoo boys at Moniya.
It was learnt that the incident happened at Ijaye-Iseyin road around a popular garage in the area when a team of police officers were conducting a stop and search
The alleged Yahoo boys were said to be in their car when they were stopped by the police for the on the spot stop and search during which they parked for some minutes.
Eye witness account said the alleged Yahoo boys suddenly moved their car to escape from the police check, during which one of the Police officers said to be aiming the car tyre with the bullet hitting the car’s rhyme and went back to the officer.
Oyo State Police Command in a statement titled “ATTACK/DEATH OF POLICEMAN ON LAWFUL DUTY ALONG MONIYA, AKINYELE LGA BY SUSPECTED HOODLUMS” said, ” 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.
The statement signed by Oyo State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adewale Osifeso for Commissioner of Police,
Oyo State Command, CP Adebowale Williams, stressed that
“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”, and that ” 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.”
The statement stressed, ” 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 of his firearm”, adding, ” the body of the deceased has since been deposited at the State Morgue for Post-mortem while (7) Seven persons have been arrested alongside (12 ) Twelve Motorcycles impounded in connection with the incident.
Also, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Williams 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.
The statement pointed out that, “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.
