 |
| Burnt police station |
SOME policemen and residents were injured when okada riders, in the early hours of Wednesday, set ablaze a police station at Kuola area of Apata, Ibadan, Oyo State.
An eyewitness, who narrated the incident to the Nigerian Tribune, said “the commercial motorcycle operators came this morning to avenge the brutalisation of one of their members claimed to have been beaten to death by the police. In the process, they freed some of their members who were earlier arrested by the police. They even went as far as releasing other suspects in the cell.
“While doing this, they were about to force open where the police were keeping their ammunition before one of them shouted said they should burn the station.
“They set the station ablaze, though they didn’t take anything away from the station,” the source revealed.
Reacting, Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ayodele Lanade, condemned the act, saying the police were still investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, 28 suspects have been arrested and 42 motorcycles impounded over the incident.
When okada riders set ablaze police station over alleged killing of member
Okada riders in Kuola area of Ibadan, on Wednesday morning, burnt the police station in the community to protest over one of their members, who fainted after an encounter with some policemen but was thought to have been killed. Tunde Ogunesan reports.
RESIDENTS of Kuola, Apata area of Ibadan woke up in the early hours of Wednesday 7, November 2012, to an unpalatable experience. The police station at Kuola built by the Federation of Oke-Alaro/Kuola Landlords Association in conjunction with Honourable Mogaji Ayilara Kaseem went up in flame as some okada riders attacked the station in protest against the alleged killing of one of them by the police.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that trouble started when an okada rider (name withheld) was accosted by police officers in the area for carrying two passengers on his motorcycle; an act which the police had forbidden because of the prevailing crime situation in the state.
While on interrogation by the police-men, the victim, was allegedly hit on the head with a baton by the police officers. The okada rider, it was gathered thereafter feigned death, this then spurred a reaction from his colleagues who stormed the police station in annoyance for vengeance.
Though, the victim, it was gathered was not dead as being peddled, he was said to be undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Ibadan. But the news of his rumoured death had spread and this spurred his colleagues to mobilize themselves to burn down the station yesterday morning.
Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered that when the angry okada riders stormed the station, some of their colleagues who had been arrested by the police were rescued, including some other suspects in the station.
An eyewitness who narrated the incident to the Nigerian Tribune said, “The okada people came en masse this morning to avenge the brutalization of one of their members claimed to have been beaten to death by the policemen. In the process, they freed some of their members who were earlier arrested by the police. They even went as far as releasing other suspects in the cell.
“While doing this, they were about to force open where the police were keeping their ammunition before one of them shouted on top of his voice that “let's burn this station”. As if he was their commander, they all obeyed him, came out and set the station ablaze. Though they didn't take anything away from the station,” the source revealed.
He further informed Nigerian Tribune that while the station was on fire, the fire fighters who were contacted to help the situation were denied entry into the street by another group of okada riders at Apata junction. The source said that at the Apata end of the road that leads to the station, the okada riders blocked the road, thereby making it difficult for men of the state fire brigade to arrive early at the scene.
In the process, Nigerian Tribune investigation revealed that almost six police officers were wounded. Three female officers who were said to have been inside the station when the okada riders stormed the place were seen changing to mufti as their uniforms had been sprayed with water in the course of the scuffle.
At the station, seven motorcycles and five vehicles parked within the premises were burnt. The lists are: a red Toyota wagon car with registration number Lagos B575 KRD; Volkwagen Jetta car numbered Lagos NY 752 AAA; white golf car OYO AG 772 YNF; a blue Volkswagen Passat car numbered AX 651 FST and a Honda Accord army green car numbered OYO AM 430 NRK, were destroyed. But two other motorcycles at the other side of the station were not burnt.
The entire Kuola area was cordoned off by men of the state police command, members of the state's security outfit, Operation Burst, and members of the state's Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps (NCDSC) and other vigilante group members and one Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) with registration number NPF 5078-A were around to restore order in the area.
Around 11.29am, an ambulance car with registration number OYO 01A 400Y belonging to Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA) with three female officers also arrived at the scene.
In the process, some suspects believed to be members of the Okada riders association as well as some residents of the area were arrested and taken to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Iyaganku, Ibadan. Nigerian Tribune also gathered that around 42 motorcycles were seized.
Several senior police officers in the state among who were the Area Commander, DD Galandachi, Divisional Police Officer, Apata, among others were on ground to put the situation in control.
A community leader in the area, Engineer Ayodele Olowoyile, in a chat with the Nigerian Tribune said “the incident was very unfortunate because the police in the area and community had always had a good relationship.
One could not explain why these okada riders did this and gave the area an image of lawlessness before the public. We've enjoyed a good working relationship with the police always and I cannot say that they were not friendly. Whatever their grievances, if any at all, this is a wrong way to express it.”
The police's determination to effect arrest thus turned the entire Kuola area to a deserted place as pedestrians and shop owners voted with their feet as security operatives combed the area for more suspects. Neighbouring shops and houses were under lock and key as residents feared being arrested by the police.
Four police vans belonging to several divisions of the state police command conveyed suspects arrested at the area to the CID, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
In a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune, the state's acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ayodele Lanade, said the case was still under investigation.
He said, “The police are bound to protect the community and that was what our men were doing. In the process, however, the okada man in question who was carrying more than one passenger as against our order was challenged. He fell and claimed to be unconscious. His other colleagues reacted with annoyance and attacked the police station.
The police will not condone lawlessness. Things must be done right. The duty of ensuring law and order is not of the police alone but that of the communities as well. So, I don't see any reason why they should behave in such manner. Meanwhile, the case is still under investigation and appropriate action would be taken in due course.”
The Tribune
No comments:
Post a Comment