From Abioye Olarewaju, Ilorin
Commercial and other social activities were on Monday afternoon paralyzed in Ilorin metropolis by the students of Kwara State Polytechnic protesting the shooting of one of them, Ahmed Dayo, a 100 level Accountancy student by a trigger happy Police Corporal in broad day light.
An eye witness who is also an HND Two of the institution, Master Abodunrin John told our correspondent that the victim was about boarding a taxi cab to the polytechnic to collect his student identity card when the incident happened.
Ahmed Dayo receiving First Aid treatment on his way to Ayodele Medical Centre, Ilorin.
Our correspondent gathered that the suspect, a police corporal and one of the officers, escorting a bullion van belonging to one of the first generation banks, shot Ahmed in the legs and condemning his right leg.
It was during an attempt by the corporal to shoot the tyres of the taxi cab the victim was about to board for allegedly obstructing free traffic flow in spite of the convoy’s blasting siren.
The incident which occurred at about 2.10pm threw the entire popular Muritala Mohammed Way, Post Office area and other suburbs in the area into confusion as motorists were prevented from moving while bonfire was set on the major roads by the aggrieved students.
Further checks revealed that the bullion van does not make any attempt to rescue the ill-fated student as the driver and other policemen therein zoomed-off to escape the students mob who took to the streets.
The victim was immediately taken to a nearby private hospital, Ayodele Medical Centre, where he was given first aid treatment and was later referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital for further medical attention.
In his immediate reaction to the incident, the state Commisssioner of Police, Mr Agboola Glover – Oshodi appealed to the students and public for calm assuring that the suspect would be brought to book.
The police reaction to the incident is contained in a statement by the command’s spokesman, Mr Femi Fabode, a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The statement quoted state police command confirming and expressing regrets over the unfortunate incident where one police corporal from the command on bank escort mistakenly shot and injured a polytechnic student on the legs.
“The Commissioner of Police appealed to the students to be calm and urged them to go back to their campuses as justice would be made to prevail,” the statement added.
The command Image maker disclosed that the suspect had been arrested as at the time of filing this report and kept in police custody adding that the law would be allowed to take its course on the matter.