There was pandemonium at Queens Court Hotel bar at Ologede area in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on Saturday when a police officer opened fire at football fans, killing one of the spectators, identified as Olaoye Abayomi.
The victim was said to be with his friend, Idris Adebayo at the bar , when four police officers arrived at the scene with a vehicle with “PF 600 – WSH” registration number.
An eyewitness disclosed that the officer allegedly alighted from the vehicle and shot into the crowd, with a bullet hitting Abayomi in the stomach while his friend, also reportedly sustained bullet wound on the leg.
Abayomi died on the spot while his friend was rushed to the hospital by other police officers at the scene of the incident. The policeman who allegedly shot the victims took to his heels.
The incident was reported to have occurred, during a football match between Manchester United and West Brom at about 9.30pm. Another witness, Adetunji Olaniyi who affirmed the sad incident said, “I went to watch a football match at Queens Court at Ologede area in Ado Ekiti when the incident occurred around 9:30 p.m,”
“The police drove into the hotel as people were watching football and drinking. All of a sudden, we heard gunshots, and those of us watching football scattered in an attempt to run away for our lives’, he explained.
“Before we could know what happened, we saw that police that entered have shot at people drinking, killing one person while the other was brutally injured on the leg”, the witness added.
Another witness, Seun Olaifa, in his account said the atmosphere was calm and police should not have shot at peaceful citizens, adding, “they came in their usual way looking for who to raid and all we heard were gunshots and the perpetrator immediately ran leaving his colleagues who took the injured person to the hospital.
The Ekiti State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident, adding that the policeman who fired the gunshot has been apprehended.
“The policeman who was involved in the fatal shooting at Queens Court Hotel for the reason which is still under investigation has been arrested by Ekiti State police command, disarmed and detained for investigation and disciplinary action. Ekiti State Police Commissioner implores all the good people of Ekiti State to be calm as he will ensure justice prevails” (Thepodiummedia)
