Drunk Police Officer Kill Betting Agent In Ogun

A betting agent identified as Anuoluwapo Abiodun has been reportedly shot dead by a trigger-happy police officer in the Imala/Elega area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

It was gathered that the deceased 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 an eyewitness who does not want his name in print, the officers were allegedly drunk and coming out of the hotel when one of them shot Abiodun, a graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.

The officers were said to have immediately retreated 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 11 pm. 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.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, when contacted, 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.