Kwara Police Clear Air on Motorcyclist Incident

The Kwara State Police Command has denied that they shot 23-year-old motorcyclist Abdurasaq Lukman at Oyun Bridge, Ilorin. They said Lukman allegedly knocked down a police officer during a stop-and-search operation.

The incident happened during a routine patrol and stop-and-search by police officers on the highway leading to the Kwara State Polytechnic.

This clarification came in a statement released on Wednesday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi. This was after a video circulated on social media claiming that police officers shot the motorcyclist.

The police stated that no one was shot during the incident.

According to the police, Lukman was riding at high speed when he knocked down Corporal Saka Azeez, one of the officers involved in the operation.

The statement explained, “Abdurasaq Lukman, aged 23, a motorcyclist on top speed, knocked down Corporal Saka Azeez, one of the officers on duty. The impact left the Corporal with serious head injuries and a fracture, while Abdurasaq Lukman also sustained minor injuries.”

The police said that the officers on duty quickly took both men to a hospital for treatment.

They added that Lukman was treated and discharged but he is still in police custody to help with the investigation.

“Corporal Saka Azeez remains under medical care and requires further medical examination and scans to ascertain the full extent of the head injury sustained,” the statement noted.

The police statement followed an earlier report that suggested a young man was shot by officers near Oyun Bridge after a confrontation with some young men believed to be Kwara State Polytechnic students.

A video shared by PUNCH Metro on Wednesday showed an unconscious man on the ground, surrounded by a group of unknown people.

The earlier report quoted a resident who said the incident started with a clash between police officers who patrol the Oyun Bridge-Fate Roundabout area and some young men thought to be students.

The resident also claimed police officers in the area often harass young people and accuse some of them of being internet fraudsters.

The police urged the public to verify information before sharing it.

The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, acknowledged citizens’ worries about police actions but asked residents not to spread unverified information.

“The command appreciates the legitimate concerns of citizens regarding police activities,” he said.