While pursuing some suspected criminals in Ibadan, a police officer affiliated to the Moniya Divisional Police Headquarters was reportedly shot dead by hoodlums.
According to reports, the event occurred at Moniya Motor Park in the state’s Akinyele Local Government Area.
SP Adewale Osifeso, the state police spokesperson, confirmed the event in an Ibadan statement on Monday.
Mr Osifeso stated that the operatives attached to the Moniya Area Command, under the Oyo State Police Command, were attacked in the line of duty on Monday at about 10:15 a.m. while conducting a lawful intelligence-led stop-and-search around a prominent black spot.
According to preliminary investigations, the patrol team extended its presence to various black spots, highways, and roads to dissuade criminal groups from settling and establishing dominance inside the area while acting on credible intelligence through visible policing tasks.
Mr Osifeso stated that the squad, commanded by Inspector Stanley Ikhine, hailed down an ash-colored Lexus 350 SUV with a faintly imprinted worn-off number plate, prompting further suspicion from the cops on duty.
“During the process, the vehicle initially slowed to comply with the directive before picking up speed and darting away to avoid the officers on duty.”
“This action resulted in a chase by officers in an attempt to establish further clarity of facts,” he explained.
According to Mr. Osifeso, the vehicle drove off the road and into the hands of hoodlums who were also accomplices in the criminal process a few metres away from the initial stoppage location.
He said that the hoodlums not only impeded the officers’ ability to carry out their duty, but also facilitated the departure of the SUV and its occupants.
“As a result of the foregoing, the hoodlums unprovokedly attacked the officers and attempted to forcefully drag a rifle from one of them, resulting in a shot being discharged from the barrel during the struggle.”
“Unfortunately, the gallant officer paid the ultimate price, receiving a heavy blow to the head inflicted by one of the hoodlums while preventing them from dispossessing him of his firearm,” he said.
According to a police spokeswoman, the deceased’s body was sent to the state morgue for a post-mortem, while seven people were arrested and 12 motorcycles were impounded in connection with the event.
(NAN)
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