The Osun State Police Command has clarified the allegations against its personnel in the gruesome murder of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade by suspected political thugs.
NPO Reported that Olopade was on Sunday shot dead by the political thugs at Ilobu town in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.
The assailants were alleged to have carried out the attack in a campaign vehicle branded with the image of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the forthcoming governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji.
Meanwhile, the father of the deceased teenager and eyewitness also accused the police of compromise as some officers were alleged to be nearby the scene of the incident before the attack.
Reacting to the allegation in a telephone conversation with the NPO Reports correspondent on Monday, the Osun police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the presence of the police near the scene the incident which occurred few meters away from the Irepodun LGA administrative building.
Ojelabi however claimed that the officers were within the council when the gunshots were heard.
He claimed the assailants drove off immediately the officers stepped out of the council to engage them.
“The incident happened few metres away from the local government. The policemen posted to the local government were inside the local government.
“It was when they heard the shooting that they all rushed out to see what happened.
“This shooting happened sporadically. I’m not trying to defend the police. These guys just passed by; shot sporadically and left the scene.” He said.
On claim by the father of the late Olopade that the thugs came with an APC branded vehicle, Ojelabi held that the officers did not see the vehicle as it sped off before they arrived at the scene.
He however disclosed the commencement of investigation over the case as well as manhunt for a suspect mentioned to be among the assailants.
“The father of the late boy made some allegations that it was a branded AMBO APC vehicle. He also mentioned a name. We are on the lookout for that guy- one Saheed Tanfeni or what was he called.
“We are on the lookout for him.
“The police were inside the local government when the incident happened. And these guys have driven off by the time they stepped out. The police didn’t even see the vehicle. That is just the scenario.” He said.
Ojelabi however urged the father of the deceased and members of the community with tangible information over the incident to assist the police with the investigation.
“From all indications, it seems they know him for them to know him by name. We have reached out to them to come and help us with investigation.
“Nevertheless, we are still waiting for the father of the boy to come and help us with some information or any other person within the community because with the name they mentioned, they know him.” He added.