Police cite forensic clearance as it denies shooting Ibadan poly graduate

The Oyo State Police Command has denied allegations that two of its officers shot Nurudeen Azeez, a graduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, during a 2021 armed robbery response in Ibadan.

The command said forensic evidence cleared Inspector Gbenga Ayodele and Sergeant Ayilaran Boluwaji, both attached to the Agodi Divisional Police Headquarters, of any involvement in the shooting. In a statement issued on Saturday, August 8, by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, police said the case was investigated and concluded in 2021 but had resurfaced following a viral video and a recent newspaper report.

“The allegation was investigated and concluded by the Command in 2021. Following its recent resurfacing in a viral video and newspaper publication, the Command considers it necessary to restate the findings of the investigation,” the statement read.

According to the police, the incident occurred at about 9pm on August 16, 2021, when Ayodele and Boluwaji were on night-duty pin-down around Koltol Hotel in the Ikolaba area of Ibadan. Police said a motorist approached the officers and reported that he was being pursued by armed robbers. Shortly afterwards, gunshots were heard from the direction of Bino Hotel, prompting the officers to move towards the area.

Reinforcement was subsequently sent to the scene. “In the course of forensic sweep of the scene, a locally fabricated pistol was recovered,” the police said. Eyewitnesses reportedly told investigators that a passenger on a motorcycle had been shot and was taken to Molly Specialist Hospital, Idi-Ape, by members of the public.

Azeez was later transferred to Kehinde Ege Traditional Hospital in Asanke, Idi-Aro, where pellets were removed from his body. Police said investigators were unable to obtain his statement at the time because he was receiving intensive care.

The command said Azeez’s elder brother, Nurudeen Musa, told investigators that he witnessed the removal of the projectiles. “Fifteen pellets were removed. Thirteen were documented, while six were registered as exhibits,” the police said.

As part of the investigation, the officers’ duty and firearm records were obtained. According to the command, the records showed that the two officers had signed out two AK-47 rifles for their assignment that night. Both rifles were subjected to forensic examination.

“The forensic examination established that neither AK-47 rifle had been fired in connection with the incident. In addition, the pellets extracted from the victim were not consistent with AK-47 ammunition,” the statement said. The locally fabricated pistol recovered at the scene was also examined. “Unlike the two police-issued rifles, the pistol showed characteristics consistent with recent discharge. However, this finding alone could not establish who fired the weapon,” police said.

Based on its investigation, the command said there was insufficient evidence linking either officer to the shooting. “Based on the totality of the evidence, the investigation concluded that the allegation that either of the two police officers shot Nurudeen Azeez was not substantiated,” the statement read.

The command added: “While the victim sustained a genuine gunshot injury, the evidence available did not establish the identity of the person responsible for the shooting.” The case recently regained public attention after an interview in which Azeez recounted the incident and said the shooting left him paralysed. He also appealed for assistance to regain the use of his legs.

Azeez has maintained that he was shot by a police officer who allegedly ordered him to stand up before leaving the scene. The police, however, said the forensic findings from the 2021 investigation did not establish that either of the two officers was responsible for the shooting.