There was confusion in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State when stray bullets accidentally discharged from the gunmofa policeman led to the death of two persons in the town.
The incident occurred Tuesday night at the Omisanjana area of Ado Ekiti, our correspondent learnt.
The officer in question has since been arrested and is being detained by the police.
The victims who were among the youths in the area met their untimely when the police were attempting to arrest a suspected internet fraudster.
An anonymous source told LEADERSHIP that, “The fraudster had hit a bikeman and the passenger while they care being pursued by the policemen who caused the accident. But the irate youths stopped them from arresting them. It was in that process the gun was shot and two people were killed,” an anonymous source told LEADERSHIP.
Another source said, “Trouble started when some youths accosted a ‘hit and run’ driver who knocked a commercial motorcyclist and a passenger, breaking the legs and arms of the victims in the process.
“The yet-to-be-identified driver put a call to the men of the Rapid Response Squad. One of them opened fire and hit two persons in the process. They were confirmed dead at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital”.
Reacting to the incident, the police in a statement signed by the Ekiti State Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Sunday Abutu said, “On 28/05/2024 at about 22:30hrs, a serious motor vehicle/motorcycle accident occurred involving a Lexus car and a Jincheng motorcycle along Omisanjana Area of Ado-Ekiti.
“The Command, upon the receipt of the information, deployed the State Traffic Section to the Scene to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order as well as ensuring the safety of the victims.
“On getting to the scene, the operatives met a resistance as some irate youths disallowed them from performing their lawful duty and insisted on carrying out jungle justice. This necessitated a call for re-enforcement to assist the officers on ground.
“However, in the process, one of the officers accidentally fired a shot that fatally injured two persons.
“The officer responsible for the shooting has been disarmed, arrested and detained and shall be made to face disciplinary action immediately”.
Abutu who disclosed that the Command is already in touch with the families of the deceased, said the Ekiti State Commissioner of police, Akinwale Kunle Adeniran, condoles with the families and assured them that discreet investigation has commenced and justice shall prevail.
