An Osun prince, Lukman Olatunji, has been shot dead by operatives of the Osun State Police Command during a scuffle at the entrance to the Akinrun of Ikirun palace, in the Ikirun area of the state.
According to reports, the policemen broke down the gate of the palace, which has been locked since the new Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Olalekan Akadiri, became the monarch of the town.
This did not go down well with some protesting hoodlums, who reportedly engaged the policemen, leading to an unrest and thereafter, the operatives allegedly fired the shot that killed Olatunji.
Four additional persons were also said to have sustained different degrees of injuries during the invasion of the policemen.
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In reaction to the death of Prince Olatunji, the youths of the community who were angry, set a building in the palace ablaze and residents scampered to safety due to the tension in the area.
Narrating how the incident happened, a resident in the community, Gboyega Adebayo, said he was on his way to purchase something in the area when he saw policemen storming the palace, adding that a stray bullet from one of the policemen claimed the life of the prince.
He said, “I was on my way to the Oja-Oba area to buy an herbal product. I saw four policemen walking towards the palace. Few minutes later, two vehicles carrying more policemen arrived at the scene.
“They started firing teargas and gunshots into the air around the palace gate. Everyone near the premises ran in different directions to avoid being shot. It was a bullet from their gun that hit a man’s (Olatunji) head. He died on the spot.
“The policemen then brought a welder to help them open the locked gate of the palace. They (police) were shooting to scare people away. Bullets also hit about four other people. Those ones are not dead yet.”
On his part, Olatunji’s elder brother, Tajudeen Gboleru, said the policemen were attempting to enter the palace when they shot his brother dead, adding that someone led the policemen to the palace.
He said, “A person trying to enter the palace came to the area with a lot of policemen and soldiers. One of the security men must have fired the shot that hit him.”
Men of the state Fire Service were alerted to put out the fire but the angry mob attacked them with charms.
The mob also vandalised the fire truck as the firemen fled the scene for their safety.