A betting agent identified as Anuoluwapo Abiodun has been shot dead by a trigger-happy police officer in the Imala/Elega area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The victim, a graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, reportedly operated a betting shop in front of a popular hotel in the area and was closing his shop for the day when he was gunned down on Friday night.
According to Punchng, an eyewitness who spoke under the condition of anonymity alleged that the officers were drunk and coming out of the hotel when one of them shot the deceased.
It was further gathered that the officers immediately escaped into the hotel and called for backup before they later escaped from the hotel, about three hours later.
“The guy (Abiodun) owned a shop opposite the hotel. The police were chasing someone or on a raid and there was an accidental discharge, the stray bullet hit the guy and the guy died immediately.
“The youths in the area tried to hold down the policemen and they ran into the hotel. They had to reinforce to get more police officers to come and rescue them before they were able to escape later around 11pm. The incident happened around 8 pm.
“As they (police officers) were trying to disperse the protesting youths, they kept shooting sporadically. In fact, fear gripped everybody,” an eyewitness said.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident.
“We are very much aware of the incident and the Commissioner of Police has detailed the SCID to commence investigation,” she said.
