Cop killer arrested as vandals clash with police

There was confusion on Ebute Road and Asiwaju Street in the Ibafo area of Ogun State after suspected vandals clashed with policemen and military personnel, leading to continuous gunshots in the area.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the gunshots began on Sunday around 10pm and lasted till 8am on Monday which forced residents to flee from the area.

Our correspondent gathered that the clash was caused by the vandals’ attempt to rescue one of their kingpins who was arrested by the Ibafo Police Division.

It was learnt that the vandals’ kingpin, whose name had yet to be ascertained, had been arrested for killing a police corporal attached to the division, identified as Torbee Atorough.

PUNCH Metro had reported on May 25 that Atorough was abducted by some suspected militants at a duty post in the community.

It was said that Atorough’s whereabouts had since then remained unknown, as the police in Ibafo continued to search for him.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the search took policemen to a hideout of the vandals on Sunday and the kingpin was arrested.

Our correspondent learnt that the vandals later attempted to rescue the kingpin from the police, leading to the exchange of fire.

A resident, who gave his name as Alfa Sumonu, said, “Some security agents had gone to the area to checkmate the vandals selling fuel and the alleged cop killer was arrested.

“When the vandals attempted to rescue him from the police around 8pm on Sunday, the shooting started and lasted till 7am on Monday.

“Some residents returning from church went back. Those going for the early morning prayers could not go. The whole area was deserted.

“During the shootout, one of the vandals was killed and that was when shootings increased.”

A police source in the Ibafo division told PUNCH Metro that the kingpin had been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Eleweran, Abeokuta, after allegedly confessing that his gang members killed Atorough.

He said, “The operation we went for was to rescue a policeman that was abducted a few weeks ago. We got a clue of the vandals’ whereabouts and we moved in. We picked the kingpin in the Ebute area and immediately, he was transferred to SARS.

“The vandals stormed the Ibafo division to rescue him. They could not move into the station because we were ready for them.

“So, they started the shootings, but nobody died on both sides.”

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the police were only doing their normal jobs in the area. He added that no incident of clash with vandals was recorded.

He said, “There is no clash in the area. Our men are just on their normal patrol.”