Amotekun operative shoots policeman at carnival in Oyo

Ibrahim Ogundele, an operative of the Oyo state chapter of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, has been arrested for shooting a policeman.

A team of police officers from Ojongbodu police station were said to have arrived at Sanga area in Oyo town, on Saturday, to disperse a crowd who had gathered for a New Year carnival.

The residents were said to have been warned not to hold the carnival.

Ogundele was, however, reported to have opened fire on the policemen at the location, wounding Fatai Yekini, one of the officers, in the process.

Ogundele was later arrested and detained at a police station while the wounded police officer was taken to hospital for treatment.

Confirming the incident, Olugbenga Fadeyi, command spokesperson, said Amotekun official is in custody and undergoing investigation.

“This happened when policemen at Ojongbodu Division, Oyo were responding to calls to dislodge recalcitrant youths staging carnival after several warnings that such should not be staged,” Fadeyi said.

“The Amotekun personnel has since been arrested and currently being investigated at Ojongbodu Police station.”

In December, the Amotekun operatives in Oyo town killed one Akolade Gbadebo, a 400-level student of the Federal College of Education Special (SPED), Oyo (with affiliation to the University of Ibadan).

The outfit alleged that the student was an armed robber and a cultist.

However, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said Gbadebo was not an armed robber as claimed.

During the inauguration of the outfit, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, said he should be held responsible for the actions of the Amotekun corps in the state.