Journalist Shot by Osun Policeman Accuses CP Of Twisting Facts

 

Kazeem Badmus

THE correspondent of The Nation newspaper in the State of Osun, Mr. Toba Adedeji, who was shot by a policeman last week Tuesday, while covering a protest in Osogbo, has accused the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Olawale Olokode of attempt to twist facts of the incident.

Adedeji stated this just as he claimed that some unknown faces have been trailing him since the incident happened, calling on the Department of State Security and other security agencies to investigate the development and protect his life.

Addressing newsmen on Wednesday, Adedeji expressed his displeasure over reported claim by Olokode that none of his men shot live bullets while dispersing protesters.

The Commissioner of Police had reportedly said on a radio programme that it was not a bullet that injured Adedeji but a metal scratch. 

Olokode claimed that he had obtained a medical report from the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, which allegedly revealed that Adedeji had metal scratch, as against bullet wound report.

But Adedeji said: “I want to state it emphatically here that CP Olokode lied. He said when he came to pay me visit at home that I told him that I was not shot, this is a lie and it is so unfortunate that it is coming from a senior police officer because we never had such discussion. I told him that I was shot at the scene by policemen led by DPO Oyegade of Dugbe police station.

“In fact, Olokode was trying to change the narrative as he told me that the police and hoodlums had shoot out at the scene but I refuted the claim, saying there was no confrontation with the protesters that warranted shooting that day. He could not talk till he left my house that day.

“The outburst of lies by the Osun State police further entrench that police should not be trusted for any reasons again because the people of the state are not safe again. Residents of Osun fear policemen more than they fear armed robbers.

“Some strange faces who have been trailing me to hospital since the issue happened must also be checked by Directorate of State Services and other security agencies”.

Adedeji asked the police commissioner to tender an apology and also provide the officer who shot him. 

He also demanded an independent investigation into the medical report allegedly obtained by the police commissioner.

The journalist added: “The Commissioner of Police should tender a public apology for lying that I told him that I was not shot but sustained mere injury. He must retract the statement which are all lies against my personality.

“The Police in Osun have lost its leadership and IGP must look for a way to address this before another wind of #EndSARS take over the state.

“There should be independent investigation into the alleged medical report which the CP claimed was obtained from UNIOSUNTH with a view to finding out the author of the said report”, he demanded.