Gunshots, tear gas as police, Amotekun operatives clash in Ondo

By Ayox Ojo

Gunshots and tear gas were freely fired into the air on as officers of Nigeria Police Force and the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun) fight each other over custody of a suspected motorcycle thief in Akure, the Ondo state capital on Sunday.

Reports indicated that the Amotekun officers, in response to a complaint, over a missing motorcycle went to the Ijoka area.

The Amotekun officers successfully retrieved the stolen motorcycle and arrested a suspect.

However, some police officers later arrived at the scene and demanded that the suspect should be handed over to them.

But the Amotekun officers refused, and instead took the suspect away to their headquarters.

But the police officers mobilised their colleagues and later invaded Akure Amotekun headquarters and the attempt to forcibly retrieve the suspect resulted in pandemonium.

Some operatives of Amotekun were reportedly injured during the invasion by the police officers.

The spokesperson for Ondo Police Command, Ayanlade Olusola confirmed the incident in a statement. But he insisted that no one was shot during the incident.

But he agreed that guns and tear gas canisters were fired during the confrontation between the police officers and operatives of the Amotekun Corps.

He also claimed that the police, and not Amotekun officers were the first to arrive at the scene and arrest the suspect.

“At about 0800hrs, a report was received at the Ijoka Divisional Police Headquarters regarding the arrest of a suspect alleged to have been involved in the theft of property from a church located around Sunday Bus Stop. Acting promptly on the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) detailed two police officers along with the incident duty officer to proceed to the scene, recover the suspect, and secure exhibits linked to the crime,” the statement read.

“It is important to note that the police officers were the first to arrive at the scene. However, while executing their lawful duties, operatives of the Amotekun Corps arrived in the company of a large group of commercial motorcyclists (okada riders). In a disorderly and commando-like manner, the Amotekun personnel and accompanying individuals forcefully took custody of the suspect and the exhibits, in the process injuring a police officer.

“Following this, the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, psc+, mnips, immediately directed tactical commanders to recover both the suspect and the exhibits.

“Subsequently, after intervention and dialogue led by the commanders of both agencies, the suspect and exhibits were returned to the police in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation.

“However, it must be stated that while the matter was being amicably resolved, a few aggrieved members of the Amotekun Corps, unhappy with the release of the suspect, began firing sporadically into the air.

“To prevent a breakdown of law and order and to disperse the agitated crowd without harm, the police officers at the scene responded with the professional use of tear gas. No exchange of gunfire occurred between the two agencies.”