At about 8pm on Sunday, 12th July, 2020, there was a distressed calls that two young police constables and a vigilante guy lost their lives while on duty. This unfortunate incident happened at Awerintu Area of Oke Eletu, Oyo East Local Government Area of Oyo.
On the ill-fated day, members of the Durbar Divisional Police Officer under S. P. Babalola Sarafa (D. P. O), allegedly invaded the area to fish out Indian hemp smokers. It was gathered that police officers went to the particular hideout three times that particular day and the incident that claimed the lives of these police officers happened during their third visit to the site.
It was reliably gathered that the two constables, Late Oparemi Goke and Ogunyemi Mujeeb, just passed out of the Police Training College a couple of months ago. Information at my disposal says they were expected to spend, at least, 6 months to acquire experience before being ordered or dispatched on any operations.
Sadly, the late inexperienced officers, both indigenes of Oyo East Local Government Area, never lived long to fulfil their dreams. Families and friends were still celebrating their recruitment into the force when the sad incident that claimed their lives occurred.
Eyewitness account reported that one of the deceased officers was in hot pursuit of one of the hoodlums when he slipped into the deep ditch. His cry for help reached his colleague who quickly took off his clothes to rescue him but also slipped into the ditch. Ditto for the third guy too.
The question on people’s lips is why would young inexperienced recruits who are supposed to be working behind the counters be exposed to such arduous task of pursuing dangerous criminals in the night?
Let it be stated here that it is not uncommon for superior officers in Oyo to send these young recruits on similar operations but the Sunday event exposed the atrocity. Someone must bear the responsibility of the murders of these two young officers.
This is a call for thorough investigation and cry for justice. We can’t just fold our arms and watch while the superior officers who are only concerned about enriching their pockets continue to put the lives of our young and bright brothers in harm’s ways.
The panel of enquiry already set up should not limit their investigation to the police officers but also reach out to families of the deceased and indigenes of that community for their findings.
Justice must prevail!
Oloye Omo-Iya Kunmi
Oyo town.
