… No one was shot – Police
BY REBECCA AJANI
THERE was commotion on Tuesday at the Agodi-gate area of Ibadan, Oyo State, when commercial motorcyclists clashed with officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Two persons were said to have been killed in the crisis that erupted over “parking area” for the motorcyclists.
The clash was said to have been as a result of the insistence by the NCS officials that the commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, plying the Iwo-Road-Bashorun-Akobo route, could not park in front of the Correctional Center.
But the motorcyclists reportedly refused to heed to the warning not to park in the area prohibited by the NCS men, which resulted in the crisis.
According to eyewitnesses, the officials tried to disperse the motorcyclists with teargas.
Shops along the axis were hurriedly locked while the owners took to their heels, when the fracas began.
Public Relations Officer, NCS, Oyo State Command, Olanrewaju Anjorin, confirmed the incident, saying, however, that normalcy had returned to the area.
According to him, operatives of Operation Burst were drafted to the scene to maintain order.
He said, “There was a little misunderstanding between the officers and some Okada riders. They normally pack at entrance to the prison. We usually told them to move downward.
“We did it the same way today and there was a little misunderstanding. But I can tell you that normalcy has returned. Nobody shot and Operation Burst has been stationed there.”
Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi, however, denied reports that the Police were allegedly at the center of the crisis.
He said, “Contrary to the currently trending news online, that police men fired shots leading to injury at Agodi gate area this morning, the truth is that there was a clash between officers of the Correctional Service and bike men stationed at Agodi Gate.
“Upon receipt of this information, police men as well as other security agencies moved to the scene to ensure there’s no breakdown of law and order that could lead to coordinated attack on the prison facility.
“Police men fired no shot. Further development will unfold and be communicated latter.”
