The Oyo State Police Command has launched an immediate investigation into the murder of a yet-to-be-identified man in the early hours of Sunday near Cocobean Lounge, Bodija, Ibadan.
According to a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Osifeso Adewale, preliminary findings indicate that the killing was cult-related. The victim was reportedly chased and shot dead a few blocks away from the popular lounge.
The police also dismissed claims circulating on social media that an onlooker, identified as a student, was accidentally shot and killed by security operatives during crowd dispersal at the scene. “There were no killings by the Police nor recorded deaths of any student before, during, or after the lawful dispersal of onlookers,” the statement clarified.
The case has been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, with a Deputy Commissioner of Police leading the probe under the directive of CP Sonubi Ayodele. Meanwhile, normalcy has been restored to the area, with increased security presence to prevent any possible hijack of the situation by hoodlums.
The police assured the public of further updates on the investigation and urged residents to report any useful information through the command’s emergency lines: 615 (toll-free), 08081768614, 09054133071, and 09061299291.