Ogun State Police Command has come out with its reaction on the alleged shooting to death of a man on the Papalanto/Ilaro Road by its operatives and, in debunking the news said to be making the rounds on social media, it said it was sheer mischief on the part of those behind circulation of the misinformation.
In the said reaction, the command, through its spokesman (PPRO), DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi said, in a press release that, on the fateful day, August 19, 2021, the command’s tactical teams, alleged of complicity in the death, were attending to a report of kidnap of a youngman on his father farmland in Ishaga-Orile the previous day.
His words: “Following a reported case of kidnapping, involving a young man, who was abducted on his father’s farm at Ishaga area of the state on Wednesday, 18/7/21, the command’s tactical teams were, as usual, deployed in and around the area for rescue operation, which usually involves risky and laborious bush combing as well as stop-and-search operation on the highways”.
He said, one of the teams stationed to conduct the stop-and-search had an issues with the driver of a Honda car at about 10:30am, who refused to heed the operatives’ order to stop for a check.
“The driver did to stop. Rather, the occupants fired a gunshot at the policemen, which they replied. The car sped off and crashed into the bush, some distance away from the pin-down point of the policemen. The driver of the car was subsequently arrested with wounds, but he gave up the ghost on the way to the hospital, while the other occupants of the car fled into the bush”, the PPRO stated.
Oyeyemi further said that, the car was searched by the police team, in the presence of members of the public, among whom was the Baale of the area, adding that a locally-made pistol, with two cartridges, were recovered from the car.
According to the police spokesman, the number plate of the car in question was hurriedly removed by the occupants, while fleeing.
“It is pertinent to note that the command’s tactical teams have been carrying out their duty professionally, and have recorded many success stories. Until now, the command had never received any complaint of professional misconduct against them from anybody”, Oyeyemi said, adding that, “It is therefore, sheer mischief on the part of those who took to social media, to accuse the team of killing an innocent person”.
“Meanwhile, a massive manhunt has been launched for the escaped occupants of the car, while the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department has commenced full investigation into the case”, the statement concluded.