“It Was Policemen Who Shot Him Dead” — Osun Driver Rejects Police Account, Demands Justice For Slain Passenger | Sahara Reporters

According to him, officers stopped the vehicle near a bridge as they attempted to leave the area.

The driver of a commercial bus passenger who was reportedly shot during Monday’s violence at Naira and Kobo Garage in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, has rejected the police account of the incident, insisting that his passenger was hit by a bullet fired by police officers.

The driver, who said he was transporting the victim back to Bayelsa State when the incident occurred, narrated in a video seen by SaharaReporters that there was no fight or chaos around their vehicle when they encountered the police.

According to him, officers stopped the vehicle near a bridge as they attempted to leave the area.

He alleged that the officers did not alight from their vehicle before opening fire.

“No problem, no chaos. There was no violence or fight at the time we were crossing the bridge,” the driver said.

“We were crossed and stopped by the police. That was when they shot from the car, the police car.

“The officers did not even get down from their car when they started shooting and it was their bullets that hit my passenger.”

The driver said the shooting caught them by surprise and that he could not confirm whether there were other gunshots in the area at the time.

“What happened came unexpectedly. So I can’t say if there is any other gunshots or not aside from the police that hit my passenger, except that I saw the police shooting from their gun,” he said.

“What I am certain of is that I saw the police shooting from their gun and that was what hit my passenger. I swear to God it was the police that shot my passenger.”

He added that they did not stop immediately after the passenger was hit.

“We did not stop when the incident happened. We were driving,” he said.

The driver’s account comes amid controversy surrounding the death of the victim, whose family is demanding justice and disputing accounts suggesting that he was killed by political thugs during the violence in Ikire.

The incident occurred amid a violent clash over the control of motor parks in the town, with several people reportedly killed.

As previously reported by SaharaReporters, at least five people, including three commercial bus drivers and two passersby, were feared dead following the violence at Naira and Kobo Garage.

A witness had told SaharaReporters that the clash was linked to a struggle for control of motor parks following the recent Osun State governorship election.

The source alleged that rival political groups had been battling for control of major motor parks across the state, with violence reported in Ikire, Iwo and Osogbo.

Various reports also alleged that the Divisional Police Officer in Ikire, identified as Olatona Bamidele, went to the garage during the crisis to clear the road and facilitate access for suspected APC thugs allegedly led by a man identified as Ojuyobo.

However, the witness cautioned against immediately attributing the killings to either APC or Accord supporters, saying what was certain was that political thugs were involved in the violence.

A video seen by SaharaReporters after the incident showed at least two bodies lying on the ground at the scene.

One of the victims appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to the head, while another body was seen lying motionless nearby.

The latest account by the driver has raised fresh questions over the circumstances surrounding the death of the victim and the role of security personnel during the violence.

The victim’s family is now demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and justice if it is established that he was killed by a police bullet.