The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the death of one Waris of Apana compound, Adeta, Ilorin while trying to escape arrest by the officials of Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) during the Saturday’s environment sanitation exercise in the community.
LEADERSHIP gathered that Waris, who was chased by a KWEPA official identified as Tunde Akewu for violating the environmental sanitation law, fell down and died.
Waris, it was further learnt, was rushed to Adewole Cottage Hospital, where he was referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), where he was confirmed dead.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, who confirmed the death of Waris, said policemen acted swiftly by arresting the KWEPA official, Tunde Akewu, who was at the centre of the unfortunate incident.
He clarified that the policemen were not directly involved in the crisis as they only intervened to restore normalcy to the troubled areas.
Ojo disclosed that Waris’ death triggered a violent reaction from irate youths, who set a KWEPA operational Hummer bus on fire and later attempted to storm the Adewole Police Station, where Akewu was being held.
The attack, he said, was, however, successfully repelled by policemen.
CP Ojo confirmed that a second task force official was attacked, beaten to stupor, and locked inside a toilet by an angry mob, adding that policemen intervened promptly and rescued the official.
The commissioner of Police urged the public to remain calm and allow investigation to take its due course, assuring that justice would be served in the matter.
