Police Deny Shooting Kwara Motorcyclist At Oyun Bridge Incident

Kwara State Police Command has denied a report that its personnel shot a motorcyclist during an incident at the Oyun Bridge, Ilorin, the state capital.

It urged members of the public to disregard unverified claims circulating alongside a video of the encounter.

The command, in a statement, signed by its spokesperson, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, said no person was shot during the incident, explaining that the confrontation occurred while police officers were carrying out routine patrol and stop-and-search duties around the Oyun bridge.

Ejire-Adeyemi explained that a 23-year-old motorcyclist, Abdurasaq Lukman, was riding at top speed when he knocked down Corporal Saka Azeez, one of the officers on duty.

She said the impact of the accident left the police corporal with serious head injuries and a fracture, while the motorcyclist sustained minor injuries.

“Other officers at the scene immediately responded and conveyed both the injured officer and the motorcyclist to a medical facility for treatment,” she said.

The police spokesperson said Lukman was treated and subsequently discharged, adding that “he is currently in police custody to assist with investigations into the incident.”

Ejire- Adeyemi said that Corporal Azeez, however, has been admitted to the hospital as he needed further medical examination and scans to determine the full extent of the head injury he sustained.

She said the video circulating on social media had been accompanied by claims that the motorcyclist was shot by police personnel, describing such claims as inaccurate.

The commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Adekimi Ojo, urged residents to exercise caution and verify information before sharing it on social media.

He added that the police appreciated citizens’ legitimate concerns about police activities, but stressed that verification of information was necessary to prevent unnecessary anxiety and misunderstanding.