A minor fight over the killing of a hunting dog in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital last week, claimed the life of a police corporal.

Residents of Abayawo and Dada communities in Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state, on Wednesday woke up to a bloody violence precipitated by the killing of the dog belonging to a hunter at Dada. The dog was reportedly hit by a car belonging to an Abayawo man, leading to its death.

That was the cause of the minor controversy that snowballed into a bloody fracas, claiming the life of one of the policemen drafted to restore normalcy to the community. The shot policeman was immediately rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). He reportedly gave up the ghost before getting to the hospital.

However, there was confusion over the death of Corporal Agboola Joakim, as an eyewitness account indicated that he was killed by an accidental gun discharge by one of his colleagues, a claim the police debunked. They said that, contrary to the account of the eyewitness, Joakin was shot and killed by somebody from the crowd during the melee.

Briefing journalists on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara State command, Mr. Okasanmi Ajayi, disclosed that 40 suspects had been arrested, adding that the suspects would, however, be screened to identify the real culprits.

He refuted the report that the policeman was mistakenly shot by one of his colleagues while trying to pull the gun’s trigger.

“There was one report I read, that the corporal was shot by a fellow policeman. I am debunking that story. It was from the crowd that the shot was fired. They were even trying to seize the corpse of the dead policeman if not for the action of our policeman who retrieved the corpse.

“If it had been in another clime that a policeman was killed, they would have killed at least 10 people, but because of the decency of my commissioner, Mr. Agboola  Oshodi-Glover, who has a record of being a human rights activist, that did not happen. He insisted that the rule of engagement must be followed to the last minute, that was why we recorded no casualty on the side of the civilians,” he said.   

The police spokesman also dismissed the claim of Abayawo residents that the policemen burnt over 50 motorcycles, snatched handsets and beat up innocent residents.

“There was one report also that the policemen were snatching handsets, going to the houses of people. I want to correct that impression,” he said. 

The police spokesman added, “We made so many arrests, about 40, but we cannot tell you that all the 40 are involved. Definitely, we are going to screen them and those found culpable would be charged to court and those who are innocent would be released.”

But Alhaji Baba Asileke Abayawo of Ago compound, who spoke to our correspondent, insisted that the policemen attacked innocent residents, burning their motorcyles and beating them up. 

“It is policemen in uniform that attacked our people. The fight is between Dada and Abayawo. We are not in any way involved, yet they burnt our motorcycles and collected our handsets,” he said. 

Sunday Trust gathered that the fracas, which paralysed commercial and social activities in the area for hours, was a manifestation of the age-long resentment among members of the two communities.

On Wednesday, when our correspondent visited the scene, scores of mobile policemen manned the trouble spots while the hitherto bustling Abayawo area was a ghost of itself as residents stayed indoors for fear of attacks. Pieces of broken bottles also littered the streets while several motorcycles were seen burning. 

Speaking with our correspondent, Mallam Gambari Alate, said he was in his room sleeping when they forced his door open and stabbed him in the face with a broken bottle.

The septuagenarian, who said he was rushed to a private hospital by his children for medical attention, said he could not identify his assailants.

Spokesman of Ilorin Emirate, Alhaji Solihu Woru Mohammad, in a chat with Sunday Trust, described the fracas as “unfortunate, criminal and irresponsible.” He urged the police to fish out criminals trying to disturb the peace in the state capital. 

If a dog is killed, must you take the life of a police officer,” he queried, stressing that the perpetrators of the crime should be arrested and prosecuted.