#Police Brutality: Man shot dead at a viewing center in Ado-Ekiti

 Johnson Emilade

Yet another tragedy has struck in Ekiti state capital (Ado-Ekiti) as a police officer allegedly opened fire on Queens Court Hotel bar, Ologede area of the state where people were watching a football match on Saturday, killing a young man, named Olaoye Abayomi, who was drinking beer with his friend.

According to eye witness reports, the victim, Abayomi, was said to be with his friend, Idris Adebayo, at the Hotel bar, when four police officers arrived at the scene with a vehicle carrying a “PF 600 – WSH” number plate.

The officer allegedly alighted from the vehicle and shot towards the direction of the crowd. A bullet hit Mr. Abayomi in the stomach while his friend, Mr. Adebayo, also reportedly sustained a bullet wound on the leg.

The incident happened around 9:30 p.m, during a football match between Manchester United and West Brom.

“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,” a witness, Adetunji Olaniyi, told reporters on Sunday morning.

“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.

“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”.

Seun Olaifa, another eyewitness, said that the atmosphere was calm and police should not have shot at peaceful citizens.

“They came in their usual way looking for who to raid and all we heard was gunshots and the perpetrator immediately ran leaving his colleagues who took the injured person to hospital.”

Asked if there was any incident that necessitated shooting, Mr Olaifa simply said: “the police officer shot anyhow. There was no incident that warrants shooting. People were drinking and watching football”.

Other witnesses disclosed to reporters that the killing led to outrage in the community but was contained by police officers in the area.

The state police command spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident. He, however,  told newsmen that the officer 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 and will face trail if found guilty.