Trigger-happy Cop To Face Sanctions, Ogun CP Visits Shot Actor
The Ogun State Police Command has said the police officer whose shot accidentally hit a Nollywood actor and director, Azeez Ijaduade, in Iperu Remo in the Ikenne Local Government area of the state on Sunday will face a disciplinary action.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, made this known to reporters Sunday.
Alamutu said that the Nollywood actor was accidentally hit by a shot that was discharged by a police officer who had intended to disperse thugs that wanted to mob the person he was attached to.
Alamutu arrived at the in-patient wards of the Babcock University Teaching Hospital around 11 a.m. on Sunday.
He was ushered into the male surgical ward, where Ijaduade was admitted after the senior cop had listened to some colleagues of the victim.
Alamutu, who said the shooting was unfortunate and uncalled for, expressed joy that the actor was in a stable condition.
According to him, Ijaduade would be discharged after having been certified okay by the doctors.
He said, “It was actually an unfortunate incident, but from all indications, I have seen the victim; it was not a direct hit. Actually, some people were trying to mob the principal the policeman was attached to, and to scare them off, he had to fire some shots. It was unfortunate that the victim was within that axis. It was the shell that hit the victim.
“From all indications, he is getting better. The concerned policeman is already undergoing disciplinary procedures. What is important is for us to ensure that no life is lost.
“From what I’ve seen so far, he’s recuperating, but he needs to be observed for some time to ensure that no vital part of his body is affected. From the way I see him, I believe no one is affected. But that can only be certified by the medical experts.”
Alamutu said though there were times officers would need to fire shots to disperse crowds, he disclosed that this current one could not be justified.
He noted that the officer involved did not display professionalism, saying that was why he would be made to face disciplinary actions.
News of Ijaduade being shot by a trigger-happy policeman, as disclosed by his colleague, Abiodun Adebanjo, via his Instagram handle, @iamabiodunadebanjo, who said, “Please, we need help in Iperu. My director, Azeez Ijaduade, @kingzeez1, was shot by Nigerian police personnel. He is presently at Babcock University Teaching Hospital. Anybody with the contacts of the police IG or commissioner should reach out.”