The Ogun state police command has denied a report circulating on the social media that men of the command shot and killed an innocent bystander along Papalanto/Ilaro road recently.
In a statement issued by the Spokesman of the command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the command stated that following reported cases of kidnapping involving a young man who was abducted in 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 involve risky and laborious bush combing and stop and search on the highways.
He said one of the teams that was conducting stop and search at about 10:30am along Papalanto-Ilaro road, flagged down an Honda Accord car.
“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 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 car was searched by the police team in the presence of members of the public who were at the scene , including the Baale of the area, and a locally made pistol with two cartridges were recovered from it, while the number plate of the car was hurriedly removed by the escaped occupants of the car.
“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.
“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.