Tragedy As Police Allegedly Shoot Prince To Death In Osun, Four Injured

There was pandemonium at a palace in Osun State when policemen were alleged to have shot a Prince to death.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that a Prince identified as Lukman Olatunji was shot to death by policemen following unrest within the Ikirun community area of Osun State.

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Olatunji was shoot at the entrance to the Akinrun of Ikirun palace in Osun State

The incident happened when armed policemen were sighted at the entrance of the palace after being under lock since the new king, Oba Olalekan Akadiri, became the traditional ruler of the community.

Armed policemen stormed the palace in an effort to force it open for the new king to gain entrance into the premises.

According to reports, the policemen fired several gunshots in an attempt to scare the protesting hoodlums who had locked against the opening of the palace.

The gunshot allegedly hit Olatunji, while four other persons were said to have sustained bullet injuries during the unrest.

Youths in the community set fire to a building within the palace as a show of their anger at the actions of the policemen, making residents run for safety.

During the efforts of the State Fire Service, who had been alerted to put out the fire, the angry youths attacked the fire truck.

The firemen fled for safety after they were also attacked with charms and their equipment vandalized.

Reports revealed that three of the firemen were injured in the process and were rushed to the hospital for immediate medical attention.

The spokesperson for Fire Service in Osun state, Ibrahim Adekunle, who confirmed the attack, said the firemen had to abandon their equipment after they were attacked.

“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.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness also narrated that the police fired teargas and gunshots, which had made people scamper for safety before the fire incident happened.

It was one of the bullets that hit the Prince who died on the spot while four others sustained stray bullet injuries.

In reaction to the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, said the police visited the palace to protect workers renovating the building and did not kill the deceased.

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.