Abeokuta, The Ogun State Capital, Was Thrown Into Chaos This Saturday As Protesters Took To The Streets To Condemn The Killing Of A Betting Agent, Abiodun Anuoluwapo Popularly Known As Pepe By A Police Officer.
The Incident Occurred Late Friday Night In The Imala/Elega Area, Where Anuoluwapo, Who Was A Graduate Of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Operated A Bet9ja Shop In Front Of The First Point Hotel While Police Officers, Who Appeared To Be Drunk, Emerged From The Hotel And Fatally Shot Anuoluwapo As He Was Closing His Shop.
According To Eyewitness Accounts, The Officers Were Either On A Raid Or Chasing A Suspect When One Of Them Accidentally Killed Anuoluwapo, Popularly Known As Pepe. The Officers Immediately Fled Into The Hotel, Called For Backup, And Later Escaped The Scene About Three Hours Later, Shooting Sporadically To Pave Their Way.
“The Guy Owned A Shop Opposite First Point Hotel. The Police Were Chasing Someone Or On Raid And There Was Accidental Discharge, The Stray Bullet Hit The Guy And The Guy Died Immediately
“The Youth In The Area Tried To Hold Down The Policemen And They Ran Into First Point. They Had To Reinforce To Get More Police To Come To Rescue Them Before They Were Able To Run Away Later Around Past 11pm. The Incident Happened Around 8pm.
“As They Were Trying To Disperse The Protesting Youths, They Kept Shooting A Lot Of Guns. In Fact, Fear Gripped Everybody. More Youths Were Also Hit By Guns But They Survived It. One Of The Survivors Name Is Hassan, He Also Has A Shop Nearby,” An Eye Witness Said.
When Journalists Visited The Scene Of The Shooting, They Found A Trail Of Blood Leading From The Entrance Of The Betting Shop To The Roadside, Clearly Indicating That The Victim Was Struck By The Bullet At The Entrance Of His Shop.
Witnesses Alleged That The Fatal Shot Was Fired By Either The Officer In Charge Of The Fadage Police Post Or The Divisional Police Officer In Charge Of Adatan.
Additionally, Youths In The Area Claimed That Police Officers Regularly Visit The Hotel And The Area To Drink Alcohol.
In Response To The Incident, The State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, Confirmed That The State Commissioner Of Police Has Initiated An Investigation And Is Engaging With All Relevant Stakeholders To Ensure A Thorough Probe.
