The Ogun State Police Command says a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), DSP Augustine Ogbeche, was on Wednesday killed by hoodlums in the state.
The command said that Ogbeche was with a police station in Atan-Ota Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area which was torched.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the station, SP Sikiru Olugbenga, was also manhandled by hoodlums and his whereabouts remain unknown.
The statement read, “The hitherto peaceful protest embarked upon by youths across Ogun State is unfortunately taking a dangerous violent dimension as some people with ulterior motives are now using the opportunity to commit all sorts of heinous crimes.
“Early this (Wednesday) morning, the protesters went to Atan-Ota and set the police station there ablaze and subsequently murdered the DCO, DSP Augustine Ogbeche, in cold blood.
“A civilian also died in the process while some arms were carted away. They also inflicted serious injury on the DPO, SP Sikiru Olugbenga, whose whereabouts is yet unknown.
“Also in Abeokuta, some groups of boys attacked Obada-oko divisional headquarters and vandalised it.”
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Oyeyemi said that the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, appealed to the rampaging youths to shun violence and embrace peace.
“The youths are reminded that since the commencement of the protests the police have been nice and civil to them even when some of our men were injured and our stations damaged.
“We even went ahead and released all the 36 suspects we arrested. However, if in the course of handling the protests anybody feels offended, we plead understanding and not retaliatory measures, including killing and maiming policemen and burning and damaging police stations.
“We will ensure that justice is served any aggrieved person. Please and please let us continue to embrace peace rather than violence.”
“The command sincerely appeals to the youths. Parents and guardians are also enjoined to help rein in their children and wards,” Oyeyemi quoted Ajogun to have said.
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