A yet-to-be-identified policeman has killed two young men when he allegedly fired shots to disperse some irate youths in Ado Ekiti.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident happened at Omisanjana Area of the state capital at about 11:00 pm, when some men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) were said to be dispersing some youths who accosted a hit-and-run driver who knocked a commercial motorcyclist and a passenger, thereby breaking the legs and arms of the victims in the process.
Further account said that the driver put a call to the men of the Rapid Response Squad and on to their arrival at the scene of the incident, one of them opened fire and hit two persons in the process.
“The irate youths made attempt to confront the RRS and were mobbing the police, that one of them fired bullet that fatally injured two boys.
“Though the victims were said to have been rushed to the Ekiti State tertiary hospital in the state capital, unfortunately, they died at the hospital. Their bodies have been deposited in the hospital mortuary.”
However, Ekiti State Police Command spokesman, DSP Sunday Abutu, in a statement, said a discreet investigation has commenced.
Abutu said:”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 said.
While the Command is already in touch with the two families of the deceased, the Ekiti State Commissioner of police, CP Akinwale Kunle Adeniran, condoles with the families and assure them that discreet investigation has commenced and justice shall prevail.
