Police shoot Osun prince to death, hoodlums burn palace

Tragedy struck on Wednesday when policemen allegedly shot a prince, Lukman Olatunji, to death during a scuffle at the entrance to the Akinrun of Ikirun palace, in the Ikirun area of Osun State.InformationGuideNigeria

PUNCH Metro has learned that the palace has been locked since Oba Olalekan Akadiri became the new Akinrun of Ikirun.

Armed cops reportedly stormed the palace in an effort to allow the king entrance.

Olatunji was allegedly shot and killed by police officers as they opened fire to disperse thugs protesting against their activity in the neighbourhood, causing chaos.

According to reports, at least four more individuals got gunshot wounds as police officers raided the palace.

Youths in the community, angered by the development, set a building in the palace on fire, and inhabitants fled to safety owing to the tension in the region.

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Gboyega Adebayo, a local citizen, described how he was on his way to a store when he witnessed police officers storming the palace and a stray bullet from one of the officers killing the prince.

He said, “I was on my way to the Oja-Oba area to buy an herbal product. I saw four policemen walking towards the palace. Few minutes later, two vehicles carrying more policemen arrived at the scene.

“They started firing teargas and gunshots into the air around the palace gate. Everyone near the premises ran in different directions to avoid being shot. It was a bullet from their gun that hit a man’s (Olatunji) head. He died on the spot.

“The policemen then brought a welder to help them open the locked gate of the palace. They (police) were shooting to scare people away. Bullets also hit about four other people. Those ones are not dead yet.”

Tajudeen Gboleru, the older brother of Olatunji, told our correspondent via telephone that the officers were attempting to enter the palace when they fatally shot his brother, and that someone brought the policeman to the palace.

He said, “A person trying to enter the palace came to the area with a lot of policemen and soldiers. One of the security men must have fired the shot that hit him.”

PUNCH Metro gathered that the state Fire Service was alerted to put out the fire, but the enraged mob attacked them with charms.

The mob also vandalized the fire truck as the firefighters fled for safety.

However, three firefighters reportedly experienced varied degrees of injury and were brought to the hospital for treatment.

Ibrahim Adekunle, a spokesman for the state’s Fire Service, confirmed the attack on the firefighters when contacted.JAMB Portal

“They attacked our men. Three of them are still in the hospital receiving treatment. Our fire truck was also vandalised. Our men had to abandon it and run to safety after they were attacked. It was the police that invited us to put out the fire and the mob attacked us,” Adekunle said.

Reacting to the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, denied killing the deceased, adding that the policemen visited the palace to protect those renovating the building.

Opalola said, “The Commissioner of Police wishes to debunk the news making the rounds that policemen shot at people in Ikirun.

“The true picture of the event is that, while some policemen were at Akinrun palace to protect those renovating it, some armed hoodlums shot at the policemen mobilised to the palace, injuring one Inspector, Obajobi Adedokun and Inspector Raji Abiodun.

“They were rushed to hospital for treatment. They (hoodlums) set the palace ablaze and also attacked the fire brigade personnel and injured one Orunwumi Roseline and Abel Olayinka and attacked their truck while on their way to the palace to put out the fire.NYSC  Portal

“The CP, therefore, charged parents and guardians to warn their wards to stop this uncivilised act of violence and toe the path of peace. He sternly warned that, anyone found culpable in this unwarranted violence/attack will face the full wrath of the law.”

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