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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
A police officer has reportedly killed two young men in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.
The incident happened at about 8pm, on Tuesday, at the Omisanjana area of the capital city, when a yet- to- be- identified officer allegedly fired gun shots to disperse some irate youths at the scene of an incident in the area.
A source said some operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) accidentally fired gun shots while trying to disperse some youths who accosted a hit-and-run driver and were about to lynch him. The driver was said to have fled after hitting a commercial motorcyclist and a passenger, breaking their legs and arms in the accident.
The source added that the driver made a phone call to the RRS men, and when they arrived at the scene of the incident, one of the officers opened fire which hit the two people.
“When the RRS men arrived at the scene, the irate youths made an attempt to confront them, and mobbed the officers, and one of the officers fired bullets that hit the two men. The victims were rushed to the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti, but, unfortunately, they died at the hospital. Their bodies have been deposited at the mortuary.”
Reacting, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ekiti State Command, DSP Sunday Abutu, in a statement, yesterday, said the Commissioner of Police, Akinwale Adeniran, has ordered discreet investigation into the incident and condoled with the family members of the deceased.
Abutu said: “A serious motor vehicle/motorcycle accident occurred, involving a Lexus car and a Jincheng motorcycle, along the 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 people.
“The officer responsible for the shooting has been disarmed, arrested and detained and shall be made to face disciplinary action, immediately. While the command is already in touch with the two families of the deceased, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Akinwale Kunle Adeniran, condoles with the families and assures them that discreet investigation has commenced and justice shall prevail.”
