Photos: Sabo Boys Clash with Amotekun Operatives In Ibadan, Residents Call for Police Investigation
There was confusion during the week in the Mokola area of Ibadan, Oyo State, following a confrontation involving operatives of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, and some residents reportedly identified as Sabo Boys.
The incident, captured in a viral video shared by Ibadan Lawa on Facebook, reportedly began when Amotekun operatives arrived in the area for reasons that were not immediately known to NewsRegister.
However, an eyewitness identified simply as Mohammed gave an account of the incident, alleging that the Amotekun operatives arrived with a suspect and attempted to arrest another individual.
According to him, the person the operatives sought to arrest denied knowing the suspect brought by the security personnel.
Mohammed alleged that the situation escalated after the operatives did not seek the intervention of a nearby police station or Community Security Officers at the Sabo Command, which he said could have helped facilitate the arrest and proper investigation.
The situation reportedly became more tense when some residents, also referred to as Sabo Boys, confronted the Amotekun operatives, resulting in damage to the front door glass of the security vehicle.
The operatives were said to have left the area but returned a few minutes later, during which sporadic gunshots were allegedly heard.
The circumstances surrounding the reported shooting have not been independently verified by NewsRegister.
Mohammed further alleged that several people were hit during the incident, with at least two victims reportedly rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment.
The identities and conditions of those allegedly injured could not be independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, residents and other Nigerians who commented on the incident have called for a thorough investigation by the police and other relevant authorities to establish what transpired and determine the circumstances that led to the escalation.
The incident has also renewed calls for security personnel to exercise professionalism and restraint when responding to potentially volatile situations, while residents are urged to avoid taking the law into their own hands and allow the appropriate authorities to investigate allegations of criminal conduct.
As of the time of filing this report, normalcy had reportedly returned to the area, while residents await an official statement from the Oyo State Amotekun Security Network on the incident.