Residents within the Jogor Centre space of Ibadan, Oyo State, have kicked towards the alleged assault of a 17-year-old boy who was hospitalised after he was reportedly slapped by a policeman.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the boy, whose title was not disclosed by the residents who witnessed the scene as a result of he was a minor, had just lately returned from the US to see his aged grandmother however fell sufferer to police brutality.
The incident, PUNCH Metro gathered, occurred on December 27, 2023, through the festive interval, however eyewitnesses mentioned they may now not maintain mum over the incident, particularly having simply recovered among the movies and footage they managed to take through the incident.
A resident, Sola Ajayi, mentioned the officers have been nonetheless within the space and questioned if trying good was against the law that warranted the alleged assault on the boy.
Talking in a phone interview on Saturday, Ajayi narrated that round 7 pm on December 27, the boy alongside one other particular person was happening a motorbike across the Jogor Centre once they have been stopped by some policemen numbering as much as 5.
He mentioned upon interrogation, “One of many policemen was doing a video recording when the boy’s accomplice additionally started to do a video recording in case something occurred. So, earlier than we knew it, the officers had known as the Divisional Police Officer at Iyaganku Police Station. They introduced extra policemen. The DPO got here in a Lexus 470 jeep. There have been many with rifles. Certainly one of them tried to cock his gun and his journal even fell off. They took them to the station of their automobile the place they have been overwhelmed.”
A supply who knew the household of the sufferer advised PUNCH Metro on Saturday that the boy and his brother who have been slapped by the policemen have been hospitalised and had been receiving therapy.
“They known as him a fraudster as a result of his look was totally different from ours,” the supply mentioned.
“They have been going to ShopRite that day. It occurred on our road. It was behind the Jogor Centre. The route they adopted was a shortcut. Please, assist us on this space. Is it an offence for a grandson to return from the US to greet his grandmother?
“They punched the opposite brother. The boy had by no means been overwhelmed earlier than. Policemen by no means beat them the place they got here from.”
In a voice observe obtained by our correspondent, mentioned to be of the 17-year-old, he was heard saying, “It was unhealthy! They tried to say I used to be a rip-off.”
A 27-second video shared with our correspondent by one of many eyewitnesses exhibits a police officer holding a cellphone suspected to be doing a video recording whereas some individuals have been additionally seen charging on the policemen. One of many officers had Olanrewaju inscribed on his uniform.
“You don’t know what you’re doing? You don’t must cease him like that…for what?,” a voice was heard telling the cops within the video whereas one other one mentioned, “What occurred?” in a raging tone.
One other video despatched to PUNCH Metro by an eyewitness who feared being named, as she mentioned she was conscious the officers have been often stationed within the space, confirmed fluid popping out from the ear of one of many victims.
PUNCH Metro contacted the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, and shared the movies and footage with him.
He merely urged the victims to instantly petition the state Commissioner of Police promising that investigation could be swift.
“Advise them to instantly put a petition to the CP. The investigation should be escalated shortly,” Osifeso advised our correspondent in a chat.
An official within the state police command who will not be authorised to talk mentioned he questioned why the problem would degenerate to the purpose of slapping the victims.
“For blood to return out from somebody’s ear, it’s very severe. It’s essential to know why they slapped the boy no matter what transpired. Even if you happen to’re profiling the particular person, there are a lot of methods you are able to do your job as a policeman with out inflicting issues. It’s essential to know what the DPO additionally did upon listening to the matter,” the police officer mentioned.