‘Corps member stabbed our officer’ — Police deny shooting claim in Ibadan

The Oyo state police command has dismissed a claim that its officers shot a corps member in Ibadan, the state capital.

On Thursday, reports had circulated on social media that operatives of the command shot a corps member who was returning from his community development service (CDS).

NAN reports that in a statement on Friday, Adewale Osifeso, the command’s spokesperson described the claim “as a mischievous and fictitious imagination of mischief agents.”

Osifeso said the corps member and his colleagues were attempting to escape a routine stop and search carried out by its operatives, stabbing and knocking down one of its officials in the process.

“A reckless driving corps member, in 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 Black Horse Area, New Garage, Off Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road,” the statement.

“The corps member, however, drove directly towards the officers and knocked down, one Sgt. Agbadahun Bright.”

Osifeso said the corps member, in his determination to escape, “drove off without batting an eyelid and veered off his lane towards the direction of other incoming vehicles and ran into a tricycle from where its men eventually caught up with him.

“On sighting his returning colleagues from their various Community Development Service groups, he immediately raised a false alarm about being shot at by the Police officers,” the statement added.

“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.

“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.

“The officer was immediately rescued by a swift police reinforcement and he is presently receiving medical attention.”

Osifeso added that Ngozi Onadeko, the state commissioner of police, has assured that officers of the command will remain civil “but would no longer condone acts of hostility from members of the public.”

The police spokesman said investigation into the matter is still on, adding that the command would provide more updates in due course.