Oyo State Police Command says its personnel did not shoot at members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) during a clash in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Thursday, alleging that one of the corps members knocked down a sergeant.
Spokesman of the Command Adewale Osifeso in a statement on Friday quoted some “preliminary investigations and independent witness accounts” to corroborate the rebuttal.
“A reckless driving corps member, in the company of his colleagues while returning from their CDS, in a white tinted Toyota Camry with Reg. No ABY 237 JR, was flagged down by operatives on legitimate stop and search duties along with Black Horse Area, New Garage, Off Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road,” the statement said.
”The corps member, however, drove directly towards the officers and knocked down, one Sergeant Agbadahun Bright.”
Osifeso said that the corps member, in his determination to escape, “drove off without batting an eyelid and veered off his lane towards the direction of other oncoming vehicles,” till he ran into a tricycle from where the policemen caught up with him.”
The spokesman noted that the corps member in question, on sighting his colleagues returning from their various community development service groups, raised a false alarm about being shot at by the police officers.
“Thus, inciting the now riotous corps members to completely cut off the flow of traffic by blocking the road and other adjoining routes, before proceeding to attack any officer in sight,” he continued.
“Assertively, no shot was fired at the scene by any officer(s) before or after the incident at the corps member or his vehicle, rather the riotous corps members smashed the side mirrors of the officer’s operational vehicle, broke its windscreen and deflated all its tyres.
“The riotous corps members then pounced on Sgt. Agbadahun Bright and stabbed his right cheek with a sharp object.”
He said the wounded policeman is receiving treatment.
Osisefo noted that further investigations would be done.
