There was pandemonium in Ilorin on Monday as men of the Kwara State Police Command killed a vulcaniser, Sulaiman Yakub, 30, in Ilorin, National Pilot, can report.
The incident which led passers-by, motorists and passers-by and shop owners to scamper for safety was said to have occurred around 8:40 pm at Ago Ayekale, Gaa-Akanbi area.
It was also gathered that the six police men patrol team which was led by one Inspector Monsurat, a resident of the area, were on a mission to rid the community of suspected cultists.
Yakub, whose workshop is located at Sabo-Oke beside Unilorin Vetinary Hospital, Ilorin, was said to be returning from where he had gone to deliver money to a labourer who was engaged on his site when he met his untimely death.
After getting information about the demise of her third and last child, Yakub's aged-mother was said to have collapsed and was subsequently rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
When National Pilot visited the family residence of the departed at Ago Ayekale community, scores of sympathisers were noticed discussing the sad incident in hush tones. Speaking, to our reporter, the elder brother of the deceased, Abiodun Yunus said, "Around 8:40pm we discovered people shouting and scampering for safety while police officers were shooting sporadically.
"I was with other members of the family at home when we heard the strange noise. We decidedly to find out what was happening and we suddenly heard another four gunshots then a lady came to inform us that the police officers have killed Sulaiman. We quickly rushed to the scene of the incident to save his life but to no avail and the police officers had left the area before our arrival.
"Friends, relatives and our neighbours cried all night and the entire community became distressed. We are all helpless," he lamented.
Yunus further said a youth in the area while narrating the account to him said the police officers had invaded the area to extort residents as is their usual practice.
"He said two of them came down from the van arresting people while four others waited inside the van.
"The two officers came through the back of the community to arrest people and were forcing them to pay but some of them refused and escaped running for their lives."
Suleiman who noticed the youth running was said to have asked them not to run since they were not robbers. His utterance was said to have irked the police officers who flashed their torchlight on Yakub's face. A female voice was said to have commanded the officers to shoot at the young man who died as a result of bullet wounds on his forehead and ear.
Yunus explained further that one of the youths earlier arrested divulged that the leader of the team (female) had said, "if they could not raise any money from the arrest, they will kill one of us."
The bereaved Yunus however said but for the football match that was played between Arsenal and Crystal Palace that night, the incident may have resulted into more deaths.
According to him, about 10 days ago, last Saturday to be precise, the same team of police officers were at the community to extort money and they made as much as N36, 000.
"They were here last week to 'raid' and we gave them the sum of N36, 000 not to arrest anyone.
He added that after the murder of his brother, the family and several youths from the area were at the A" Division Police Station, Murtala Muhammed Way, Ilorin to register their displeasure.
"As soon as we got there, the officers started shooting sporadically into the air to disperse the crowd but we decided that if they want to kill us then we are ready to die.
"They later attended to us and we lodged our complaint. We mentioned the woman that led the team and the case was subsequently referred to police headquarters and we went there with the lifeless body of my brother (Sulaiman)," he said, adding that the family is demanding that the perpetrators of the act be brought to book.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Olusola Amore has interfered and implored the people not to take laws into their hands. He also promised that justice will prevail as the incident will be thoroughly investigated.
Speaking on the deceased's last moments, Yunusa said his brother was planning to marry as soon as he completed building of his house.
"His mother was asking him when he will be getting married as his friends have been making babies. He would always tell his mother that as soon as he is done with his house project.
"He was returning from where he had gone to collect money from his thrift contribution before he was shot dead by the police officers beside one harmony block industry in the community."
Speaking to National Pilot, yesterday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident, adding that the culprits have been arrested and are currently undergoing thorough investigations.
