Ibadan violent protest: Oyo police chief regrets shooting

Oyo State Police Command has appealed to Ibadan residents over the shooting of a commercial motorcycle operator on Saturday by a police sergeant.

He urged them to shield their swords by allowing peace to reign.
According to Commissioner of Police Shine Olukolu, the action of the police Sergeant, Sunday Ogunkanmi, was regretted.

In a statement he personally signed, Olukolu, while giving a narrative of the crisis that engulfed part of Ibadan on Saturday, confirmed that the sergeant, who opened fire on the motorcycle rider, is in custody.

He said the matter has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where the case is being investigated.
He, however, described as untrue and mischief, the news by a section of the media which reported that the motorcyclist was dead after been hit by the sergeant’s bullet.

Appealing to the residents to always refrain from taking the law into their hands in case of any occurrence in the future, the police chief added that the motorcycle rider, Sule Ikuforiji, is alive at the University College Hospital (UCH) and not in emergency or Intensive Care Unit.

He added that Ikuforiji is responding to treatment and the police are taking responsibility for his medical care.
On what led to the crisis, Olukolu said: “On Saturday, a six-man police patrol team from Alakia, Adelubi Division, led by an inspector, left their office on morning duty patrol in consonance with constitutional responsibility of the police to protect life and property