Police-Post Set On Fire Over Killing Of Okada Rider: Aggrieved commercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada and some residents of Kuola community in Apata area of Ibadan Wednesday, set ablaze the police post in the area over the alleged killing of a commercial motorcyclist by some policemen on illegal check point duties.
The deceased, who is popularly called Akebaje, eyewitness account disclosed, allegedly slumped when a Police Inspector hit him with a baton on the head for allegedly violating traffic law because of his refusal to part with N20.
The source added that rather than take the injured commercial motorcyclist to the hospital for medical attention, the police sergeant assisted by his two policemen dragged him into a waiting police van in his pool of blood to Koola Police Station.
He was said to have died eventually, thereby sparking off protest from his colleagues, who felt embittered by the police action.
It was learnt that the commercial motorcyclist was found to have carried two passengers against the new traffic law in state and upon sighting the police, he was said to have tactfully asked one of the passengers to disembark.
But unknown to him, the Police Inspector in a patrol van with other policemen had sighted him.
According to an eyewitness account, Akebaje was hit with a baton on his head, when attempting to escape punishment.
The protesters, who learnt of Akebaje’s death formed themselves into a mob and joined by other sympathisers among the residents attacked any regular policeman in uniform and traffic warders who fled on sight.
The violence later spread to the police station, where scores of youths had stormed the station and set the police post ablaze, while policemen on duty ran for safety.
One of the community leaders, Ayodele Olowoyile, confirmed that the community mandated the police not to allow commercial motorcyclist access into the community due to their reckless driving and because of the frequent robbery operations.
Most parts of Apata area of Ibadan were deserted when about 20 police pick up vans started arriving the troubled spot to arrest people indiscriminate.
The Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ayodele Lanade, who confirmed the incident explained that a commercial motorcyclist was stopped by a team of policemen on a stop-and-search duty but turned back ostensibly to avoid been searched.
The deceased, who is popularly called Akebaje, eyewitness account disclosed, allegedly slumped when a Police Inspector hit him with a baton on the head for allegedly violating traffic law because of his refusal to part with N20.
The source added that rather than take the injured commercial motorcyclist to the hospital for medical attention, the police sergeant assisted by his two policemen dragged him into a waiting police van in his pool of blood to Koola Police Station.
He was said to have died eventually, thereby sparking off protest from his colleagues, who felt embittered by the police action.
It was learnt that the commercial motorcyclist was found to have carried two passengers against the new traffic law in state and upon sighting the police, he was said to have tactfully asked one of the passengers to disembark.
But unknown to him, the Police Inspector in a patrol van with other policemen had sighted him.
According to an eyewitness account, Akebaje was hit with a baton on his head, when attempting to escape punishment.
The protesters, who learnt of Akebaje’s death formed themselves into a mob and joined by other sympathisers among the residents attacked any regular policeman in uniform and traffic warders who fled on sight.
The violence later spread to the police station, where scores of youths had stormed the station and set the police post ablaze, while policemen on duty ran for safety.
One of the community leaders, Ayodele Olowoyile, confirmed that the community mandated the police not to allow commercial motorcyclist access into the community due to their reckless driving and because of the frequent robbery operations.
Most parts of Apata area of Ibadan were deserted when about 20 police pick up vans started arriving the troubled spot to arrest people indiscriminate.
The Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ayodele Lanade, who confirmed the incident explained that a commercial motorcyclist was stopped by a team of policemen on a stop-and-search duty but turned back ostensibly to avoid been searched.
No comments:
Post a Comment