SaharaReporters had reported that Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso was thrown into chaos after a policeman on Monday shot a student dead and injured two others.
Police in Oyo State say they have detained the officers involved in the alleged killing of a student, Damilola Iyanda, at a club in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
SaharaReporters had reported that Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso was thrown into chaos after a policeman on Monday shot a student dead and injured two others.
It was gathered that the incident occurred when a police team was called to settle a misunderstanding between two people, but rather than settle the matter, one of them shot into the air and in the process, killed the student and injured two others.
Following the incident, SaharaReporters gathered that there was a heavy protest in the school as angry students blocked the school gates, demanding justice for the victims.
It was gathered that an operative of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force was recognised by the students as the policeman responsible for the shooting.
However, the management of the school has said that the resident killed by the policeman was not a student of the school.
The University's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Lekan Fadeyi, who made this known, condemned the killing but added the victim was not a student of the school.
Fadeyi also said the incident did not happen on the school premises, adding, “According to what we heard, the incident occurred around 2am, it did not occur in the institution, it happened in a club and in LAUTECH we don’t have a club or hotel."
However, Oyo State Police Command in a statement posted on its X account on Thursday, signed by its Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said Rasheed Saheed, who led the police team and other officers involved in the shooting had been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department at Iyaganku.
Osifeso said the state police commissioner had ordered that the case be taken up by the Homicide Department of the State Criminal Investigation Department with the Deputy Commissioner of Police directly put in charge of the investigation.
The statement reads in part, “The Oyo State Police Command wishes to clear the air about the unfortunate shooting incident that occurred on Monday 22/4/2024 at about 0130hrs around a popular Night Club along, “Under G” Area, Owode-Ogbomoso resulting in the demise of Iyanda Damilola, ‘m’.
“Investigation report reveals that during the early hours of the same date and time, a distress call was received by Operatives of the Command’s Monitoring Unit stationed within Ogbomoso through the Director of a popular Night Club within the axis, requesting for immediate intervention and protection from rampaging suspected student cultists who were at the time harassing guests and destroying club property.
“In a swift response to the call by the Club Director, A team of officers led by one Insp Rasheed Saheed arrived at the scene. The fracas worsened as deliberate efforts were made by the suspected cultists to prevent the Police from further gaining access into the crime scene while shots were allegedly fired from different angles including from the intervening officers who fired warning shots to disperse onlookers.
“The incident recorded the death of one Iyanda Damilola, ‘m’, and the injury of his brother, one Iyanda Femi Israel who has since been discharged from the hospital after treatment. Worthy of note is that the CP has ordered that the case be taken up by the Homicide Department of the State Criminal Investigation Department with the Deputy Commissioner of Police directly in charge of the investigations.”
“All the Operatives involved in the incident including Inspr Rasheed Saheed are currently under detention at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku. Lastly, the Oyo State Police Command assures members of the public particularly the Student Community of the swift dispensation of Justice,” the statement read.