Policemen in search of cop’s killers lay siege to Oyo community

There was anxiety at Moniya in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Wednesday, as residents woke up to witness a deployment of armed policemen in the area.

PUNCH Metro had reported that a policeman was killed during a clash with alleged hoodlums and alleged fraudsters on Tuesday in Moniya, the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.

Our correspondent, who visited the area on Wednesday, saw armed policemen stationed at strategic positions in the area, therefore causing apprehension among residents.

PUNCH Metro also observed that a roadblock was mounted at the front of the Divisional Police Headquarters.

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At Moniya Junction, Moniya Garage and the entrance of Oja Agbe, it was observed that policemen used different items such as chairs, tables, used tyres and planks to block roads.

Some residents told our correspondent that traders at Oja Agbe, Moniya Garage and Moniya Butchers Market were dispersed by the policemen said to be searching for the killers of their colleague.

 “Policemen have been terrorising us residents and motorists with gun and tear gas canister shots,” one of the eyewitnesses who identified herself simply as Abimbola said.

Our correspondent also observed that the development affected the movements of candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations at a CBT centre in the area, Islamic Mission Primary School.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said, “The state police command, while investigating the circumstances that led to the demise of one of its officers, is also mindful about the safety and wellbeing of residents within and outside the location of the incident.

“Residents witnessed a strategic increase in deployment of operational assets to forestall breakdown of law and order and to prevent hoodlums from establishing dominance.

“The confidence building patrols and increased policing visibility was designed to further boost the confidence of residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation or harassment.”