Policeman who killed our member must be arrested – OPC tells IGP, Police Commissioner
Policeman who killed our member must be arrested – OPC tells IGP, Police Commissioner
The Oyo State chapter of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has urged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ngozi Onadeko, to fish out the policeman who killed a member of the organisation.
The association noted that the need to bring the erring policeman to book is necessary so as not to allow the death of their member be in vain.
Crime Channel had reported yesterday that a member of OPC identified as Morufu Ganiyu on Saturday, died as a result of gunshot wounds he sustained during an encounter with a policeman in Ibadan.
It was gathered that the policeman attached to Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS), Lagos State, Obasanjo Atoyebi shot Ganiyu last Thursday at Imalefalafia junction, Oke-Ado area of Ibadan.
But while reacting to the incident during an interview with newsmen on Friday, the OPC coordinator in the state, Rotimi Olumo, called for proper investigation into the matter, saying the arrest and prosecution of the policeman would serve as a deterrent to other erring officers.
“The incident occurred on Thursday, 17th February this year. We learnt that one of our members named Morufu Ganiyu who is providing private security for the car dealers at Imalefalafia up till Iyana Ososami area was shot twice by a policeman known as Obasanjo Atoyebi.
“Obasanjo Atoyebi has one wife there and he usually comes at midnight. The people of the areas have complained bitterly about his unnecessary shootings at midnight whenever he arrived.
“On that fateful day, Obasanjo Atoyebi fired gunshots when he arrived the area in the midnight. He has a pistol that he usually puts it in his pocket. Morufu Ganiyu challenged him on why he arrived at that time and why the unnecessary shootings.
“Obasanjo Atoyebi then shot him twice. He first shot him in the chest and when he discovered that he did not die, he later shot him in the stomach.
“Those who were around rushed him to a hospital where they removed the bullets. They removed the one at the chest but, the man died because they could not remove the one in the stomach.
“What we are saying is that once a soldier is a soldier forever. He is a Yoruba man. Morufu Ganiyu was one of our coordinators.
“Is it alright for a policeman to be killing members of the public? Whether a dismissed policeman or serving policeman.
“We are using this medium to inform the federal and state governments that Obasanjo Atoyebi should not go unpunished. Morufu Ganiyu should not die in vain. If the activity of a person like Ayoyebi is not challenged many of them will do such a thing.
“We are using this medium to tell the IGP and the commissioner of police in Oyo State to fish out Atoyebi for him to pay for the offence he committed”.
But, efforts made to get a reaction from the spokesman of Oyo State Police command, Adewale Osifeso, proved abortive as calls put through to his phone were not answered. He also did not respond to text messages sent to him for comments.
