Prison Officials, Commercial Motorcyclists Clash, 2 Dead

Prison officials and commercial motorcyclists have clashed in Ibadan.

Infoexpert24 reports that no fewer than two persons have reportedly died in a clash between Nigerian Correctional Service officials and commercial motorcyclists operating in Agodi-Gate area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

According to reports, the ugly incident took place when prison officials insisted that the commercial motorcyclists who plie Iwo-Road-Bashorun-Akobo axis would not be allowed to park wrongly at the frontage of the prison yard.

It was gathered that what started as a mere warning later erupted in a fracas when the motorcyclists defied the instruction with sources saying that the warders had to use teargas canisters’ to scare the motorcyclists.

Reports quoted unconfirmed sources to have said two persons were feared dead during the crisis, but the Correctional authority has not confirmed the casualties as at the time of filing this report.

While the crisis lasted, many shop owners, traders and business operators in the vicinity quickly lock their shops for the fear of been attacked while commuters and other road users ran helter-skelter.

“We have to hurriedly close our shops, some of us ran away while some closed their shop while they were still inside the shops,” a source said.

NCS, Oyo State Command’s Public Relations Officer, Olanrewaju Anjorin confirmed the clash to journalists but said normalcy has returned to the area.

In a telephone conversation with Journalists, Anjorin said that men of Operation Burst, a joint security outfit set up by Oyo State government has been stationed at the scene of the incident.

He said, “There was a little misunderstanding between the officers and some Okada riders. They normally pack at entrance to the prison. We usually told them to move downward.

“We did it the same way today and there was a little misunderstanding. But, I can tell you that normalcy has returned. Nobody shot and Operation Burst has been stationed there”.

Olugbenga Fadeyi, the Police Public Relations Officers (PPRO), Oyo state Command, who also spoke on the clash in a state, in a statement denied some media report alleging the police to be behind the crisis.

His words: “Contrary to the currently trending news online, that police men fired shots leading to injury at Agodi gate area this morning.

“The truth is that there was a clash between officers of the Correctional Service and bike men stationed at Agodi Gate.

“Upon receipt of this information, police men as well as other security agencies moved to the scene to ensure there’s no breakdown of law and order that could lead to coordinated attack on the prison facility.

“Police men fired no shot. Further development will unfold and be communicated latter.”