Protest erupted in the Imala/Elega area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, following the killing of a betting agent identified as Abiodun Anuoluwapo by a police officer late Friday.
Reports indicate that Anuoluwapo, a Moshood Abiola Polytechnic graduate, operated a Bet9ja shop in front of First Point Hotel and was closing his shop for the day when he was shot.
An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, alleged that the officers who emerged from the hotel were intoxicated before one of them discharged his firearm.
Another eyewitness reported that the officers were either conducting a raid or chasing a suspect when one of them accidentally killed Anuoluwa, popularly called Pepe, who was in front of his shop.
It was further gathered that the officers immediately retreated into the hotel and called for backup, eventually escaping about three hours later. Eyewitnesses revealed that the officers and their backup fired sporadically to secure their escape.
“The guy owned a shop opposite First Point Hotel. The police were chasing someone or on a raid, and there was an accidental discharge. The stray bullet hit the guy, and he died immediately,” an eyewitness said.
“The youth in the area tried to hold down the policemen, and they ran into First Point. They had to reinforce to get more police to come to rescue them before they were able to run away around 11 PM. The incident happened around 8 PM.
“As they were trying to disperse the protesting youths, they kept shooting. Fear gripped everybody. More youths were also hit by bullets but survived. One of the survivors, Hassan, also has a shop nearby,” the eyewitness added.
When the press visited the area on Saturday, blood stains were visible from the shop entrance to the roadside, indicating that the bullet hit the victim at his shop’s entrance.
Some youths alleged that the shot was fired by an officer from Fadage police post, while others claimed it was the Divisional Police Officer from Adatan. They also accused police officers of frequenting the area and the hotel to drink.
When contacted, Omolola Odutola, the state Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident. She added that the State Commissioner of Police has initiated contact with all stakeholders involved to start an investigation.
“We have received information that one Aanu was a victim. It is not easy to say exactly what happened, but the CP is in touch with the stakeholders. He has called everyone involved so that we can start investigating. We are aware and informed, but we are still deliberating on the matter,” she said.
