NB247
The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the death of a police inspector attacked by ticket touts along Alagbaka Road in Akure on Wednesday.
Although the cause of the skirmish was still unknown as of Thursday morning, sources say the police officer was trying to arrest a commercial tricycle(Keke Maruwa) waiting to collect the daily ticket.
It was gathered that the union members began a brawl with the policeman before he was stabbed with a broken bottle at his back.
While tensions initially died down after the officer was taken away for treatment, the death of the officer, angered politics officers who returned to the scene for reprisals.
“They(policemen) came back in the evening after they claimed the officer stabbed had died and began to attack nearby shops and arrest a number of persons not even at the scene of the earlier incident,” a commercial motor cycle operator told NB247 reporter.
“Even up till this morning the area where they attacked us still scattered and some of the shops are locked.”
However, police say the officer was carrying out his lawful duties when the incident occured.
Police Spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, while shedding light on the incident, said the “unfortunate event triggered an immediate and coordinated police response.”
”To set the record straight, the Command confirms that an incident occurred in the early hours of yesterday involving a police officer who was performing lawful duty in the said area,” he said.
“An altercation ensued between the officer and some recalcitrant individuals, during which the officer was tragically stabbed.
”Acting swiftly, the Commissioner of Police deployed a team of operatives to the scene, resulting in the arrest of two suspects directly connected to the incident.
”They include Shina Jacob ‘m’ aged 25 years and Felix Olalekan ‘m’ aged 32 years. ”The injured officer was also rescued and rushed to the hospital; however, despite all efforts, the police inspector sadly passed away while receiving treatment.”
Mr Ayanlade also said a follow-up operation conducted last night formed part of the Command’s sustained and strategic efforts to rid the state of violent criminal elements and prevent further breaches of public safety.
He said the command would not tolerate any form of human rights abuse by its officers, just as it would deal decisively with anyone who assaults or attacks police officers in the course of their lawful duties.
”The arrested suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” he added.
Although the incident happened on Wednesday morning, colleagues of the slain cop were seeing carrying him into a vehicle and rushing him away for Medicare.
A team of police officers later returned to the scene to make further arrests but there was an uproar which raised tensions and security concerns in the area.