Kwara Police Deny Shooting Motorcyclist at Oyun Bridge, Explain Viral Video

Kwara Police Deny Shooting Motorcyclist at Oyun Bridge, Explain Viral Video

The Kwara State Police Command has denied reports that its officers shot a 23-year-old motorcyclist during an incident at Oyun Bridge in Ilorin, saying the viral video that triggered the allegation did not accurately reflect what happened.

The command said Abdurasaq Lukman was not shot but sustained minor injuries after he allegedly rode at high speed and knocked down a police officer during a routine patrol and stop-and-search operation.

The clarification was issued on Wednesday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, following the circulation of a video on social media suggesting that the motorcyclist had been shot by police personnel.

According to the police, the incident occurred around Oyun Bridge, on the highway leading towards the Kwara State Polytechnic, where officers were conducting patrol and stop-and-search duties.

The command identified the police officer involved as Corporal Saka Azeez, saying Lukman allegedly knocked him down while riding at high speed.

The impact, according to the police account, left Corporal Azeez with serious head injuries and a fracture, while Lukman sustained minor injuries.

Other officers at the scene reportedly intervened and took both the injured police officer and the motorcyclist to a medical facility for treatment.

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The police said Lukman was treated and discharged but remains in police custody to assist with investigations into the incident.

Corporal Azeez, however, remains under medical care and is expected to undergo further medical examinations and scans to determine the full extent of his head injuries.

The command stressed that no person was shot during the incident, directly contradicting the claims accompanying the viral video.

The video had generated concern online, with earlier reports alleging that a young man had been shot by police officers around the bridge following an altercation involving police personnel and some young people reportedly believed to be students of the polytechnic.

Those earlier claims were not reflected in the police’s subsequent account of the incident.

Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, urged members of the public to exercise caution when sharing unverified information, particularly material circulating on social media.

He said the command recognised citizens’ concerns about police activities but stressed the importance of verifying information before sharing it in order to prevent unnecessary anxiety and misunderstanding.

The police clarification does not, however, end the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

With Lukman still in police custody and Corporal Azeez receiving medical treatment, the outcome of the investigation is expected to provide further details about the events at Oyun Bridge.

For now, the Kwara Police Command maintains that the motorcyclist was not shot, but was injured in a collision with the police officer, while the motorcyclist remains in custody as the investigation continues.

Kwara Police Deny Shooting Motorcyclist at Oyun Bridge, Explain Viral Video