PUNCH Metro learnt that the residents protested at the Public Advice Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday and also at the Oba of Ijora’s palace on Saturday to report Odufarasin, who they alleged had been terrorising them.
Our correspondent gathered that apart from the residents hit by the bullets – Ganiu Muritala, Bayo Iwalokun and one Isiaka – two others, one of them known only as Ade, were allegedly stabbed by the policeman.
Odufarasin, who is believed to be attached to the Inspector General of Police Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit, and lived on the street, was said to have taken the action because they held the ceremony without his “permission”.
Our correspondent gathered that last Wednesday, March 30, at about 8pm, the police inspector had driven into the street and met the gathering.
He was said to have chastised some youths for holding the ceremony without informing him.
An altercation was said to have ensued during which the police inspector allegedly stabbed Ade and a yet-to-be-identified youth.
Odufarasin was also said to have gone inside his house, brought out a gun and shot to disperse the guests at the event, while Muritala, Iwalokun and Isiaka were hit in the process.
The matter was reported at the Ijora Badia Police Division and Odufarasin was arrested.
When PUNCH Metro visited the area, an eyewitness, Muhammed Jamiu, said the residents picked up some pellets of the bullets shot by the inspector.
He said, “There was a naming ceremony which ended by 7pm, but people were still having fun after the event. Odufarasin came over and accused the people of staying out late and holding a party without telling him. The youths replied that they were residents and not hoodlums; the inspector brought out a dagger and stabbed Ade in the hand.
“Minutes later, he brought out a gun and began to shoot. There was panic on the street as everyone fled. About 15 minutes later, I came back and saw three persons who were hit. We picked some pellets as we went to the police at Ijora Badia. The Divisional Police Officer has collected some pellets, but we still have others with us.”
Another resident, Alhaji Ishola Adebayo, said the landlords once reported the policeman to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, where he was made to sign an undertaking for peace.
He said, “It was a naming ceremony, not a gathering of hoodlums. But Ibrahim (Odufarasin) made trouble with the people, shooting two persons. If not for timely intervention, we might have lost those people.
“The landlords’ association reported him to SARS, Ikeja, where he wrote an undertaking that he would not harass the residents again. But he is now worse.”
The mother of one of the victims, who did not want her name in print, said, “My son is just 24 years. There was no violence on that evening at the ceremony. The ceremony had ended and he was just chatting with his friends. He was shot in the buttocks.
“Although Ibrahim has been arrested, our fear is that the police want to doctor the allegations against him, saying that the officer shot because he wanted to combat armed robbers on the street. That is not true. He used his gun during a naming ceremony.”
Our correspondent learnt that the matter was also reported by one of the residents to the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, on the telephone.
The CP was said to have assured him that Odufarasin had been arrested and taken to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba, where the case was being handled by a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the shooting.
She said, “I confirm the case of shooting, but not of stabbing. The victims are treated and discharged immediately. Meanwhile, the inspector is under detention and undergoing disciplinary process. He is serving with the Anti-vandalisation Unit, Force Headquarters.”
(Punch)
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