One die, 4 policemen injured in police/okada riders’ clash in Ibadan

Hell was let loose in Ibadan on Monday afternoon as an okada rider died, while four policemen were injured when okada riders clashed with policemen from Moniya Division in Oyo State Police Command.

According to an eyewitness account, trouble started when the okada rider who was flagged down by a police officer for carrying two passengers refused to stop,  and was hit with a baton on the head.

The okada man was reported to have fallen off the bike and died on the spot.

In anger, the sources further informed that the dead okada rider’s colleagues headed towards the police station, threatening to burn down the division, but in an attempt to scare them off, the police allegedly fired tear gas into the midst of the rampaging crowd and shot into the air to scare them. Unconfirmed reports had it that two members of the association were hit by the stray bullet, and were currently under intense treatment.

The development reportedly further increased the already tensed situation as people had to scamper for safety while the road was deserted as the smoke of tear gas filled the air.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Adekunle Ajisebutu, told Metro that the okada rider lost control and fell while trying to evade policemen who were on stop-and search duty at Ajibade Village on Moniya-Ijaiye Road because he was carrying more than a passenger.

“As he tried to speed off, he ran into a bad portion of the road and fell. It was even our policemen who went to help him and took him to the hospital. Unfortunately, he died during treatment.

“The mob which did not know how the incident occurred met a patrol team on the road and attacked the policemen, injuring two of them. They also moved to Moniya police station where they also injured two other policemen. The four policemen are currently in hospital receiving treatment,” Ajisebutu said.

He said that an attempt to set the police station ablaze was foiled while the Divisional Police Officer had called the leadership of okada riders, butchers’ association and NURTW to a peace meeting.

The PPRO added that five suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.