Agodi Gate area of Ibadan, Oyo State, was a no-go area yesterday, following a clash between some motorcyclists and warders at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
The clash led to the burning of the Idi Ogungun Police Outstation by some angry youths, while another police station opposite the centre was reportedly damaged.
It was gathered that, a motorcyclist was shot by one of the warders, but some eyewitnesses claimed that the teargas canister, which the warder held, exploded and injured the motorcyclist in the face.
Sources said that prison warders always extort okada riders, who usually park close to the facility to pick passengers.
However, an Okada rider refused to pay N50 to one of the warders, and he was dragged into the premises and was shot. This, it was said, angered his colleagues and youths in the area, who made bonfires on the road, which made motorists to avoid the area.
It was not clear if the motorcyclist died or he was just injured, but some people said he had been taken to hospital.
Policemen and operatives of the Operation Burst, comprising soldiers and other security agents, were deployed in the area to restore normalcy following the violence.
Oyo State PPRO gave the report of the incident saying:
“Contrary to the currently trending news online that policemen fired shots, leading to injury at the Agodi Gate area this morning, the truth is that there was a clash between officers of the correctional service and okada riders stationed at Agodi Gate.
“Upon the receipt of this information, policemen as well as other security agents moved to the scene to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order that could lead to coordinated attacks on the prison facility.
“The Idi Ogungun Police Outstation was burnt, while the Agodi 2 Station opposite the correctional centre was damaged.”
