Police deny killing protesters involved in Ikirun obaship tussle

The police in Osun State, southwest Nigeria, have denied shooting at protesters involved in the tussle over the Ikirun traditional stool.

TheCornet had reported that some interested parties opposed to the appointment of a new monarch for the town barricaded and subsequently set fire to the palace. Five persons were allegedly shot during the melee.

But, giving a clarification, the state’s commissioner of police, Faleye Olaleye said armed hoodlums rather attacked the operatives deployed to the palace to keep peace.

According to him, the armed hoodlums shot at two police inspectors and damaged a fire truck deployed to out out the palace blaze.The police operatives said to be shot at are identified as Inspector Obajobi Adedokun and Inspector Raji Abiodun.

Olaleye adds that the mayhem took place despite the police intervention to broker a truce between the disagreeing parties.

The CP said all the parties consented to maintaining the peace following the intervention, adding that he was “surprised to learn about the attack on security personnel, fire brigade personnel and the burning of the Akirun of Ikirun Palace by armed hoodlums who shot two Police officers and injured two fire service personnel.

“The Commissioner of Police therefore, charged parents and guardians to warn their wards to stop this uncivilized act of violence and toe the path of peace. He sternly warned that, anyone found culpable in this unwarranted violence/attack will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.