Nigeria police killing sparks violence in Ogun

Nigeria police officers on police patrol vans

Nigeria police officers on patrol

Killing of a bus driver from a trigger happy police office erupts violence  in Iperu, Ogun state

A violent protest erupted over the weekend in Iperu town following the killing of a commercial driver in Sapade axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The man was allegedly killed by a police officer on Saturday.

The commercial driver, identified as Friday Sunday, who was conveying bags of Garri in a Mazda bus marked KSF 432 XZ, was allegedly shot dead by a police officer identified as Samson Yusuf after the driver refused to heed the flag down order of the police.

Witnesses of the incident say that the police patrol team along Sapade area of the expressway flagged down the Mazda bus on a stop and check operation, but the driver refused to stop before the police officer shot at the bus. The bullet reportedly hit the driver who died shortly after.

Another account has it that the driver did not only turn down the order but also hit the police patrol vehicle before making to escape.

The development took a heightened dimension on Saturday as angry colleagues of the driver went on rampage to protest the killing. The town was under siege while a Police patrol vehicle was burnt down by the irate protesters.

Premium Times further learnt that police officers on patrol were brutalised by the angry crowd who also attempted to burn down the police station in Iperu.

A team of mobile policemen attached to the scene of the incident however prevented the mob from causing further damage.

As at time of filling this report, the protesters had set up bon fires in several areas of the town.
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, in a visit to drivers at Iperu Motor Park, and the home of the deceased, expressed deep regret about the incident.

He said that no officer of the command is in support of the act committed by the policeman. “I want to assure you that we are not happy about the incident as policemen are meant to protect lives and property of the people. We are not happy with what he has done and justice will take his course on the matter,” Mr. Okoye said at the motor park.

He appealed to the drivers to maintain peace in the area.

At the residence of the deceased, the police boss consoled with the aged mother of the deceased and promised that her son would not die in vain.

“Be assured that we have taken up the matter, justice will be done, and the officer in question will appear in court at the end of the investigation,” the police boss said.

Culled from Premium Times