Police officer killed ‘while chasing suspected criminals’ in Oyo

A police officer attached to the Oyo command was reportedly killed while chasing some suspected criminals in Ibadan, the state capital.

The incident was said to have occurred at Moniya motor park in Akinyele LGA on Tuesday.

Adewale Osifeso, Oyo police spokesperson, in a statement, said the incident occurred when the operatives attached to Moniya police area command were conducting a stop-and-search exercise around a major black spot at about 10:15 am on Tuesday.

Osifeso said the exercise followed credible intelligence on the activities of criminals in the area.

The police spokesperson said the team led by one Stanley Ikhine, an inspector, flagged down an ash-coloured Lexus 350 SUV, with a faintly inscribed worn-off number plate.

“In the process, the vehicle initially slowed down in compliance with the directive before eventually picking up speed and dashing off to evade the officers on duty,” Osifeso said.

“This action led to a chase by the officers in a bid to establish further clarity of facts.”

He said the vehicle veered off the road to a nearby motor park instead of stopping at the police checkpoint.

The police spokesperson added that the hoodlums at the park obstructed the police officers from discharging their duties and aided the escape of the vehicle and its occupants.

“A few meters away from the initial stoppage point, the Lexus Jeep veered off the road to a nearby garage, driving directly into the waiting hands of hoodlums who were also collaborators in the criminal process, thereby not only obstructing the officers from discharging their duties but as well aiding the escape of the SUV and its occupants,” the statement reads.

“Consequent on the above, the hoodlums attacked the officers unprovoked and attempted forcefully dragging a rifle from one of the officers which led to a shot being discharged from the barrel during the process of the struggle.

“Sadly, the gallant officer paid the supreme price, suffering a heavy blow to his skull inflicted by one of the hoodlums while preventing them from dispossessing him of his firearm.

“The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the state morgue for post-mortem while seven persons have been arrested alongside 12 motorcycles impounded in connection with the incident.”