Journalist Apprehended while Reporting the Clash between Police Officers and Suspected Fraudsters

A police officer yet to be identi­fied has been reportedly shot dead during a clash with Ya­hoo Boys in Moniya, Akinyele Local Government Area of Ibadan.

Daily Independent reporter at the scene of the incident observed that some okada riders were in the area when some policemen on stop and search duty along Ijaye-Iseyin Road were chasing some suspected yahoo boys who refused to wait on policemen’s orders.

An eyewitness who pleaded anony­mous said, “As those Yahoo boys were held in a traffic jam in the Moniya Ga­rage area, a policeman shot at them but his shot was misfired causing him serious injury which later led to his death.”

The eyewitness who also confirmed the incident said that those Yahoo boys later escaped unhurt from the scene. The Policemen in an attempt to scare the onlookers and also to calm down the situation started firing gunshots and tear gas canisters into the air and in the process one old man was hit by a stray bullet but it has not been confirmed if he’s dead or alive.

The eyewitnesses, who are mostly Okada riders, lamented the alleged as­sault and extortion by policemen in the area. They said, “In most cases, these policemen always extort us, harass us, mistake us and our innocent customers for Yahoo boys, it is sad this is happening and it’s not new here.”

However, a reporter of Silverbird Television, John Alabi who was at the scene was arrested and assaulted by po­licemen. Though the state Commission­er of Police, CP. Adebowale Williams has ordered a discreet investigation into the arrest of the journalist.

The state Police Public Relations Offi­cer, SP. Adewale Osifeso, through a press statement, confirmed the incident.

Osifeso in a copy of the statement made available to Daily Independent stated “Today, being Tuesday 25/04/2023 at about 1015hrs, operatives attached to Moniya Area Command under the Oyo State Police Command while on lawful intelligence led Stop and Search around a Major Black-spot were attacked in the line of duty.