Chaotic scene in Ilaro
Suspected killer cop to be arraigned in court today
Ilaro, headquarters of Yewa South local council of Ogun State yesterday boiled as youths of the town embarked on a violent protest against the alleged killing of a commercial motorcyclist allegedly shot by a police corporal, Awoleke Moruf.
Moruf allegedly shot the victim for violating the restriction order earlier placed on all commercial motorcyclists in the state by the state Commissioner of Police, Abdul-Majid Ali.
The angry protesters, comprising commercial motorcyclists and members of the butcher association in the town barricaded all roads leading into and around Ilaro.
They also burnt disused tyres and threatened to “deal” with any policeman in sight for the loss. The over three-hour protest paralysed all commercial activities as shops, markets, stalls, banks as well as the council secretariat were hurriedly shut.
An eyewitness told The Guardian that three police officers had shot a commercial motorcyclist identified as Akanji Ahmed a.k.a Posi around 9pm on Wednesday at Igbo-Aje motor park, the main heart of Ilaro town.
It was gathered that the 32-year old Akanji, after closing for work, had gone to buy food on a friend’s motorcycle but was intercepted by the three policemen on another motorbike, accusing him of contravening the CP’s order, which had restricted okada movement to 9p.m.
All pleas by Akanji for the policemen to forgive him failed. The deceased allegedly allowed the officers to take possession of the motorcycle. According to the eyewitness, Akanji’s refusal to part with N100 demanded by the police officers after taking possession of his motorcycle, forced the officers to descend on him, beating him to stupor.
“While still struggling to leave the scene, one of the police officers who accused Akanji of abusing them pulled the trigger and shot him at his back, which killed him instantly,” the witness stated.
The corpse has since been deposited at the morgue of the State Hospital in Ilaro. The Guardian gathered that the traditional ruler of the town, Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, who visited the scene around 10pm after the incident, passionately appealed to the people of the town, particularly the youths not to take the laws into their hands in revenge, but allow the law to take its full course.
Immediately after the incident on Wednesday night, the youths attempted to demonstrate at the Ilaro Police Divisional office, but were chased away by the officer who fired several shots sporadically into the air to scare them.
Still angry, the youths assembled again yesterday to stage a violent protest, which paralysed all activities in the town.Reacting to the incident, the state Police Command’s spokesman, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said the command had arrested and commenced trial of the erring police officer.
“The misdeed of this erring policeman had triggered the anger of some members of the public, especially, commercial motorcyclists, who took over the streets and started attacking police personnel, facilities and vehicles before they were pacified by very senior police officers and His Royal Majesty, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Olu of Ilaro”.
Adejobi disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdul-Majid Ali, has directed the state’s Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence (DCII) to conclude investigation yesterday and charge the killer cop to court today (Friday).
“The CP has visited the victim’s relations and appealed to them to allow the law take its course as the police will not spear the erring and recalcitrant policeman”.