The Commissioner for Police in Ekiti State, Tunde Mobayo, on Wednesday, confirmed that an Assistant Superintendent of Police on a motorcycle was crushed to death while eight other cops sustained injuries in an accident involving the van of the Rapid Response Squad in Ado Ekiti.
Mobayo, who mourned the death of the policeman and sympathised with the injured, however, dismissed reports that the police van crushed the cop to death while in the pursuit of suspected Internet fraudsters.
The CP, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer for the command, Sunday Abutu, said the accident was caused by mechanical fault to the police van, while the RRS operatives were in transit to react to a distress call.
He said, “Around 6.30pm, a distress call was received from the DPO, Ikole Ekiti, by the RRS for reinforcement for the possible arrest of some suspected cultists, who have been terrorising the people of Ikole-Ekiti and its environs.
“Upon the receipt of the report, the RRS Commander deployed three patrol vehicles with adequate operatives in the area for the operation.
“Unfortunately, while on their way, one of the three patrol vehicles developed a mechanical fault, went off its lane and hit an oncoming motorcycle ridden by a policeman, who had closed from work and was returning home.
“The policeman was rushed to hospital for medical attention, but was confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while eight other RRS operatives in the patrol vehicle sustained varying degrees of injury and are currently in hospital receiving medical attention.”
Abutu stated that Mobayo sympathised with the family of the deceased police officer and prayed that God would grant him eternal rest.
According to the PPRO, the CP has visited the injured policemen in hospital and will also visit the family of the deceased ASP.
