It was a chaotic atmosphere on Wednesday when a prince known as Lukman Olatunji was shot dead allegedly by police, and many others left injured.
Olatunji’s death was reportedly caused by a stray bullet that hit him when policemen were shooting to disperse an angry crowd.
According to report, there was a scuffle at the entrance to the Akinrun of Ikirun palace, in the Ikirun area of Osun State. The palace had been locked since the new Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Olalekan Akadiri, became the monarch of the town.
In a bid to enable the monarch gain entry into the palace, the armed policemen reportedly stormed the premises to open it, PUNCH Metro report.
The situation created unrest as the policemen, while opening fire to scare hoodlums protesting against their action in the community, allegedly shot Olatunji dead.
No fewer than four other persons reportedly sustained bullet wounds when policemen invaded the premises of the palace.
Angered by the development, youths in the community set a building in the palace ablaze and residents scampered to safety due to the tension in the area.
Narrating how the incident happened, a resident in the community, Gboyega Adebayo, said he was on his way to purchase something in the area when he saw policemen storming the palace, adding that a stray bullet from one of the policemen claimed the life of the prince.
He said, “I was on my way to the Oja-Oba area to buy an herbal product. I saw four policemen walking towards the palace. Few minutes later, two vehicles carrying more policemen arrived at the scene.
“They started firing teargas and gunshots into the air around the palace gate. Everyone near the premises ran in different directions to avoid being shot. It was a bullet from their gun that hit a man’s (Olatunji) head. He died on the spot.
“The policemen then brought a welder to help them open the locked gate of the palace. They (police) were shooting to scare people away. Bullets also hit about four other people. Those ones are not dead yet.”
Olatunji’s elder brother, Tajudeen Gboleru, during a telephone conversation with Punch, said the policemen were attempting to enter the palace when they shot his brother dead, adding that someone led the policemen to the palace.
He said, “A person trying to enter the palace came to the area with a lot of policemen and soldiers. One of the security men must have fired the shot that hit him.”
PUNCH Metro gathered that men of the state Fire Service were alerted to put out the fire but the angry mob attacked them with charms.
The mob also vandalised the fire truck as the firemen fled the scene for their safety.
However, three firemen reportedly sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to hospital for treatment.
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