The incident which happened around King’s College threw the entire area into panic while vehicles made U-turns for fear of being attacked.
An eyewitness, who did not want to be mentioned, said, “The alleged ‘Yahoo boys’ were in the car when the officers who were on a stop-and-search operation flagged down their car. They parked but nobody knew what transpired between them again. They suddenly moved the car and in the process, a sudden exchange of bullets which I could not trace suddenly hit the police. Other officers started shooting sporadically and this led to the commotion in the area.
“They made an attempt to arrest those guys but people resisted,” she explained.
Another eyewitness said, “Moniya boiled today (Tuesday). One police officer was hit by a stray bullet during an argument with some boys and he died.”
However, the state police command which confirmed the incident in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, said seven persons had been arrested with 12 motorcycles impounded in connection with it while the body of the deceased had since been deposited at the state morgue for a post-mortem.
He said, “Preliminary investigation revealed 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 the 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-coloured Lexus 350 Jeep with a faintly inscribed worn-out number further arousing suspicion from the officers on watch.
“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.”
The PPRO explained further that this action led to a chase by the officers in a bid to establish further clarity of facts.
“A few metres 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 hoodlums attacked the officers unprovoked and attempted forcefully dragging a rifle from one of the officers which led to a shot being 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 dispossessing him of his firearm.
Osifeso, therefore, assured the people that further updates on the case would be provided.
