Police inspector, driver killed in clash

Falola

The violence that erupted between the youths of Oke-Odan community in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State and security agents in the area last Monday has left two persons dead.

Irate youths in the town had allegedly engaged policemen and operatives of the state anti-crime military security outfit, Operation MESA in an exchange of fire over the killing of a member of the community, Yinka Falola.

The violence which had lasted three days culminated in the alleged reprisal killing of a police Inspector, Kolapo Lasisi, on Wednesday by some youths who also burnt two police vehicles and vandalised twelve others.

Eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that violence broke out on Monday afternoon when a police officer attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos, Inspector Olusesan Sounde, allegedly shot and killed 30-year-old Falola.

According to the eyewitness, the FED-SARS inspector had allegedly slapped Falola who was on a motorcycle on his way from the farm.

Falola was said to have retaliated, infuriating the police inspector who allegedly cocked his rifle and shot him.

After firing the shot, the alleged killer policeman was said to have insisted that Falola was a smuggler.

“Yinka (Falola) was never a smuggler, he was a commercial driver. He had altercations with one of the SARS men and the policeman slapped him. He retaliated and the policeman fired at close range killing him instantly,” the source said.

Falola’s death immediately triggered the reprisal by the youths of Oke–Odan who mobilised themselves to the police check point where they violently protested the killing.

Soldiers attached to Operation MESA who raced to the scene were also alleged to have been attacked by the angry youths, resulting in another shoot-out between them and the security agencies.

The rampaging youths were said to have then marched down to the SARS check point where they burnt two police vehicles and vandalised 12 others at the Oke–Odan police station.

Another round of the crisis which broke out on Wednesday was said to have resulted in the alleged killing of a police inspector, Kolapo Lasisi.

Lasisi was said to have got trapped in a swamp while attempting to escape from the rampaging youths who allegedly caught up with him and hacked him to death.

The state Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident said the police inspector was killed by the angry youths.

Adejobi stated that the youths launched a nocturnal raid on the SARS check point where they killed the police inspector, buried him in the swamp and took away his riffle.

The police spokesman also disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye visited the town on Wednesday where he held a meeting with the traditional ruler of the community over the crisis.

Adejobi further disclosed that the inspector who killed Falola had already been arrested and detained at the command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, while the corpse of the slain inspector had been exhumed from the swamp.

He added, “The family of the late Falola as well as that of the slain inspector are demanding justice. We will ensure that justice is done, especially when the rifle of the inspector is still missing. We must recover the rifle and we must get it as well as the man who killed the inspector.”

PUNCH