Oyo State Police command has reacted to a claim that some suspected hoodlums attacked the Asiwaju/Shettima Solidarity Walk of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ibadan, on Tuesday.
The command in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, on Wednesday, refuted the claim of hoodlums attack.
Osifeso said that an isolated case of armed robbery was reported in Idi Aro Divisional Police Station which caused gunshots.
The statement read in full: “The Oyo State Police Command under the firm and constructive leadership of CP Adebowale Williams psc(+)fdc and as a precursor towards the electioneering campaigns has held series of meetings with relevant Political stakeholders in Oyo State to include but not limited to the Interparty Advisory Council and the independent National Electoral Commission to underscore the importance of a Peaceful 2023 General Election Build-up.
“Also, Political parties were advised through purposeful intelligence to devise and provide the Command with detailed route courses for each campaign train to prevent party supporters from running into each other in episodes that could amount to needless attacks fueled by various sentimental involvements with diverse party ideologies.
“In furtherance of the above, and guided by relevant laws and Statutes including the 2022 Electoral Act and the Force Orders and Administrative instructions No.248, that clearly indicates the Oyo State Police Command from the professional standpoint is not oblivious of its non-partisanship in politics, hence its conspicuous adoption of complete neutrality to the Process.
“Premised on News making the rounds about a coordinated attack on a party supporter of the All Progressive Congress, during their procession from the State Party Secretariat on 04/10/2022 to some parts of the metropolis, the Oyo State Command wishes to refute the claims and give a detailed account of the incident in the proper perspective.
“The Oyo State Police Command comprehensively provided adequate security for the (1) one -day event in concert with relevant Sister Agencies.
“The Campaign train was adequately protected by layers of operational and tactical Command assets aided by intelligence driven surveillance and Patrol teams flagging the procession from the front and rear.
“However, an isolated case of Armed-robbery was reported at the Idi-Aro Divisional Police Headquarters, Ibadan South-East LGA, where an unsuspecting party supporter was dispossessed of his Black TVS Motorcycle and was shot by hoodlums adorning same campaign T-shirts outside the rally axis.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the Unsuspecting party victim, One Chukwuemeka Okoh ‘m’ 22 years was approached by (2) unknown adult males to assist them in catching up with the advancing campaign train, a gesture which he obliged because they were adorned in similar T-shirts.
“He was later instructed to veer into “shortcut” (what later became a secluded pathway) in a bid to overtake the body of the campaign train and join the major players ahead.
“In furtherance of the above, the victim, Chukwuemeka Okoh ‘m’ was in no distant time halted with a locally made shotgun pointed at him as the assailants demanded briskly for the keys to his Motorcycle after which he was shot and left to fate. Thankfully he was rescued and a report eventually filled.
“The victim is alive and well.
“While the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, CP Adebowale Williams psc(+) fdc has ordered immediate investigations into the incident, the CP also warns members of the Public against unnecessarily heating up the Polity with inciting utterances and provocative gestures.
“So also, Parents, Guardians and leaders wielding various degrees of influence are enjoined by the CP to prevail on their wards and proteges against been used as Cannon-fodders in disrupting the relative peace enjoyed in the State.
“In cases of emergency, the Command can always be reached through these emergency control room numbers: 615 (toll free) (OYO STATE SECURITY TRUST FUND), and Oyo State Police Command emergency lines 07055495413 and 08081768614. The NPF rescue me app is also available for free download on both Android and Apple IOS, for Android and I phone users respectively.”
