Ibadan – Oyo State Police Command said seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of a police Officer attached to the Moniya Area Command in Ibadan.
Spokesman of the Command, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed this in a statement in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Osifeso said the corpse of the deceased police Officer
has been deposited at the morgue of the state General Hospital for post-mortem.
According to Osifeso, the Police officer died after suffering a heavy blow to his skull, saying the blow was inflicted by one of the arrested suspects believed to be hoodlums.
He said the late Officer was trying to prevent them from dispossessing him of his firearm when he was landed a blow on the head.
The police Spokesman further explained; “Operatives attached to Moniya Area Command under the Oyo State Police Command while on lawful intelligence-led Stop and Search around a major black spot were attacked in the line of duty.
“Preliminary Investigation reveals that the Patrol team while acting on credible intelligence through visible policing duties extended their presence around major black spots, highways and major roads under Akinyele Local Government Area Axis in a bid to deter criminal elements from settling and establishing dominance within the location.
“In furtherance of the above, the team of operatives on patrol led by one Inspector Stanley Ikhine, flagged down an Ash colored Lexus 350 Jeep with a faintly inscribed worn-off number further arousing suspicion from the Officers on watch.
“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.
“This action led to a chase by the officers in a bid to establish further clarity of facts.
“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.
“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.” (vitalnewsngr.com)
