Tragedy struck in Ilaro town, in the Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State after a policeman allegedly shot and killed a commercial motorcyclist (okada rider).
The commercial motorcyclist, Hammed Akanji, was allegedly shot and killed by Corporal Moruf Awoleke, with service number 389719, on Wednesday.
Akanji’s death was said to have sparked a protest by okadariders in the town on Thursday, while another commercial motorcyclist was allegedly injured by a policeman in the team that came to quell the protest.
The victim was said to have been rushed to a hospital in the area, where he was receiving treatment.
The protesters, which comprised commercial motorcyclists and members of the butchers’ association in the town, barricaded all roads in and around the town.
They made bonfires with disused tyres and threatened to deal with the police for deliberately gunning down one of their colleagues.
The protest paralysed commercial activities in the town as shops, markets and banks were hurriedly shut.
The local government secretariat was also shut, while workers returned to their houses.
It was gathered that Akanji, aka Posi, was killed at about 9pm at Igbo Aje Motor Park in the town.
The 32-year-old Akanji, who was said to be off duty, had gone to buy food when he was allegedly accosted by three policemen, who were also on a motorcycle.
The policemen were said to have accused him of contravening the 9pm restriction order on commercial motorcyclists’ movement.
It was gathered that the pleadings by Akanji that he was not on duty, but came to buy food fell on deaf ears.
A source told our correspondent that Akanji’s refusal to part with N100 bribe demanded by the policemen after taking possession of his motorcycle made the officers to descend on him, beating him to stupor.
“One of the police officers, one Awoleke, accused Akanji of abusing them and pulled the trigger, shooting Akanji at a close range, and killing him instantly,” the source said.
It was further gathered that the traditional ruler of the town, Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, who visited the scene around 10pm, appealed to the people of the town not to take the laws into their own hands by attacking policemen.
The angry youths were said to have marched to the Ilaro Police Divisional office on Wednesday night, but were chased away by the policemen who fired shots into the air.
The protesters were said to have staged another protest on Thursday, blocking vehicular movements in and outside the town.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the killing, but was silent on the injured motorcyclist.
He said the killer cop had been arrested, while the command had commenced his orderly-room trial.
He said, “The command has commenced an orderly-room trial of one Force No 389719 Corporal Awoleke Moruf, attached to Ilaro division of the command for firing and killing a commercial motorcyclist, Hammed Posi(32) on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, in Ilaro, Yewa South LGA.
“The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, Abdulmajid Ali, has directed the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence to also charge the suspect to court on Friday (today) without delay.”
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