Gunfire erupts in Ondo as Amotekun allegedly injures police officer
Tension gripped Akure, the capital of Ondo State, on Sunday as a dispute erupted between operatives of the state Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun, and the police over the custody of a suspect.
The suspect was reportedly involved in the theft of property from a church near Sunday Bus Stop on Ijoka Road. The disagreement escalated, resulting in gunfire and widespread panic as residents fled for safety.
The confrontation later moved to ShopRite Roundabout, close to the Amotekun headquarters, around 2 p.m.
Olusola Olayinka, the state’s police public relations officer (PPRO), stated that police operatives were the first to arrive at the scene. He accused Amotekun personnel of forcibly taking custody of the suspect and the recovered items, allegedly injuring a police officer in the process.
“At about 0800hrs, a report was received at the Ijoka Divisional Police Headquarters regarding the arrest of a suspect alleged to have been involved in the theft of property from a church located around Sunday Bus Stop,” he said.
“Acting promptly on the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) detailed two police officers along with the incident duty officer to proceed to the scene, recover the suspect, and secure exhibits linked to the crime.
“It is important to note that the police officers were the first to arrive at the scene. However, while they were executing their lawful duties, operatives of the Amotekun Corps arrived in the company of a large group of commercial motorcyclists (okada riders).”
Following the incident, Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, the Ondo commissioner of police, directed tactical commanders to recover both the suspect and the exhibits.
“Subsequently, after intervention and dialogue led by the commanders of both agencies, the suspect and exhibits were returned to the police in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation,” Olayinka said.
“However, it must be stated that while the matter was being amicably resolved, a few aggrieved members of the Amotekun Corps, unhappy with the release of the suspect, began firing sporadically into the air.
“To prevent a breakdown of law and order and to disperse the agitated crowd without harm, the police officers at the scene responded with the professional use of tear gas. No exchange of gunfire occurred between the two agencies.”
Olayinka reaffirmed the commitment of the police to collaborate with other security outfits in the state, but stressed the need for all personnel to operate within the bounds of the law and established protocols.
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