Police and members of the state Security Network Agency, nicknamed Amotekun, battled over the detention of a suspect on Sunday in Akure, the capital of Ondo state.
According to reports, the suspect was engaged in the theft of items from a church on Ijoka Road near the Sunday bus stop.
Residents fled in fear as a result of the gunfire that followed the argument.
Around 2:00 pm, the altercation moved to the ShopRite roundabout, which is close to the Amotekun offices.
Operatives were the first to reach the site, according to Olusola Olayinka, the state’s police public relations officer (PPRO).
He said that Amotekun agents had injured a police officer while forcibly removing the suspect and the exhibits.
“At about 0800hrs, a report was received at the Ijoka Divisional Police Headquarters regarding the arrest of a suspect alleged to have been involved in the theft of property from a church located around Sunday Bus Stop,” he said.
“Acting promptly on the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) detailed two police officers along with the incident duty officer to proceed to the scene, recover the suspect, and secure exhibits linked to the crime.
“It is important to note that the police officers were the first to arrive at the scene. However, while they were executing their lawful duties, operatives of the Amotekun Corps arrived in the company of a large group of commercial motorcyclists (okada riders).”
Ondo commissioner of police, Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, ordered tactical commanders to retrieve the exhibits and the suspect after the event.
“Subsequently, after intervention and dialogue led by the commanders of both agencies, the suspect and exhibits were returned to the police in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation,” Olayinka said.
“However, it must be stated that while the matter was being amicably resolved, a few aggrieved members of the Amotekun Corps, unhappy with the release of the suspect, began firing sporadically into the air.
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“To prevent a breakdown of law and order and to disperse the agitated crowd without harm, the police officers at the scene responded with the professional use of tear gas. No exchange of gunfire occurred between the two agencies.”
Olayinka reiterated the police’s dedication to working with other state security agencies, but emphasised that all staff members must adhere to the law and established procedures.
