The Police has said that a corps member injured one of its officers and a tricycle operator in bid to escape arrest at Black Horse area, New Garage, Ibadan on Thursday.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso accused the corps member of reckless driving which resulted in serious injuries sustained by one of his men on stop and search duties.
He said, in a statement that there was no record of death, or reported firing of shot by his men.
He said, it was clear that it was some riotous corps members that damaged the police patrol vehicle.
Osifeso stated that the corps member while attempting to beat the police on stop and search duties veered off his lane and injured one Seargent Agbadabu Bright and a tricycle operator
The Police, as informed later caught up in him and in the process he raised a false alarm to draw the attention of other corps members who were returning from a weekly Community Development Service.
The statement read, “The Oyo State Police Command wishes to dispel the rumours making the rounds about the shooting of a corps member as mischievous and a fictitious imagination of mischief agents
“Preliminary investigations/Independent Witness Accounts revealed that a reckless Corps member in the company of his colleagues while returning from their Community Development Service (CDS) in a White tinted Toyota Camry with Reg No ABY 237 JR was flagged down by operatives on legitimate Stop and search duties along Black Horse Area, New Garage, Off Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road.
“However, he drove directly towards the direction of the Officers, thereby knocking down, one Sgt Agbadahun Bright.
“Resolute in his actions and in a view to escape, he drove off without batting an eyelid and veered off his lane towards the direction of other incoming vehicles till he ran into a Tricycle from where the Policemen caught up in him.
“On sighting his returning colleagues from their various Community Development Service Groups, he immediately raised a false alarm about being shot at by the Police Officers thus inciting the now riotous corps members to completely cut off the flow of traffic by blocking the road and other adjoining routes before proceeding to attack any officer in sight.
“Assertively no shot was fired at the scene by any officer(s) before or after the incident at the Corps Member or his vehicle rather the riotous corps members smashed the side mirrors of the Officer’s Kia Operational Vehicle, broke its windscreen and deflated all its tyres.
“The riotous corps members then pounced on Sgt Agbadahun Bright and stabbed his right cheek with a sharp object. The officer was immediately rescued by swift Police reinforcement and his presently receiving medical attention.
“The Commissioner of Police however wishes to state assertively, that while being civil and professional in the discharge of their duties as expected, Officers and Men of the Command would no longer condone acts of hostilities such as these from members of the Public.
“Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing and updates would be provided in due course.”
Meanwhile, the NYSC in a statement denied reports that a Corp member was shot dead by the police.
The Public Relations Officer, Christy Olatoye made the disclosure in a statement on Friday.
She said , “The attention of the Management of NYSC has been drawn to the news making then rounds in the social Media that a Corps Member was shot dead by Policemen at Ibadan while returning with his car from the weekly Community Development Service within the Ibadan metropolis
“To put the records straight, no Corps member was shot in the head or chest and no life was lost during the encounter between some corps members and policemen on duty.
“As a matter of fact, the police authorities in Oyo state quickly intervened and the situation was immediately brought under control, and normalcy returned as expected.
“However, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State has authorized an investigation into the matter to ensure that those who erred are reprimanded accordingly.”