Police Officer Shoots Amotekun Corp For Arresting Fulani Herdsmen In Oyo

An official of the Oyo State Amotekun corps is reportedly treating gunshot wounds at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.

Reports available to Oriental Times alleged that the local security corp was shot on his leg by the Divisional Police Officer at Igbon Police Station in the Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Ayodeji Adepoju.

It was reported that the DPO, had ordered the arrest of two operatives of the Amotekun Corps for arresting herdsmen whose cattle were grazing on the farm in Gambari, allegedly destroying farm products in the process.

It was learnt that the owner of the farm on which the herdsmen destroyed its crops had reported to Amotekun in the area that headers were grazing on his farm, of which the corps acted fast and arrested the herdsmen.

However, some of the herdsmen were said to have also reported the development to the DPO who ordered the arrest of the two Amotekun operatives, Jenyo and Olatunji Mayowa. The area police boss was quoted to have said that Amotekun was not set up to arrest herdsmen but to go after armed robbers.

Reacting to the arrest of his men, the unit Commander of Amotekun in the area, Araoye Amoo, reportedly visited the police station with some of his men to secure the release of the two officials. The visitation, however, turned bloody after the DPO stormed out of his office and reportedly collected a gun from a policeman and shot one of the Amotekun men in the leg.

According to him, he learned before time that the Amotekun corps were coming to the station to kill him, hence he made a fast move. The unit commander said one of the Amotekun corps who escaped from the scene was pursued and disarmed.

In his reaction, Araoye said the police checked and discovered that the gun which was forcefully collected from the Amotekun was not even loaded.

He insisted in a video clip that the corps that followed him to the station were not having bullets on their guns.

Speaking with newsmen, the Amotekun commandant in Oyo State, Col Olayinka Olayanju (retd), noted that the injured Amotekun official had been taken to the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.

He said, “The DPO arrested and detained our men that arrested herdsmen. The unit commander led some of his people there to ask for the release of his men but the DPO was said to have shot them. One of them was injured and he is on admission at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital.”

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi, when narrating the incident stated that the Fulani reported that some Amotekun operatives wanted to set their settlement on fire and some policemen who were deployed there brought the Amotekun men to the police station.

He was however silent on the shooting of the Amotekun operative.

The PPRO said, “It was a report from the Secretary of Miyetti Allah, one, Oroji Allah ‘m’ at Orile Igbon Police Station that some Amotekun operatives planned to set ablaze Fulani ‘Igaa’. A team of policemen was sent to the scene and brought them to the station for amicable settlement by the DPO.

“Not too long, Amotekun corps numbering about 30 invaded the station and conducted themselves in an unruly and riotous manner. Three of them were arrested. The Area Commander Ogbomoso is handling the matter.”