The family of a police officer, identified as Taiwo Agboola, who was allegedly killed by a reckless driver in Akure, the Ondo State capital, dropped his corpse in front of the Area Command’s office, Akure, to protest against the alleged insensitivity of the command to the death of the cop.
A drama played out at the Area Command’s office on Oyemekun Road, Akure, when Agboola’s family staged a protest in front of the police station after dropping the corpse.
Agbola, who was attached to the Fanibi Police Station, was allegedly killed by the driver when he was controlling traffic on the Oyemekun Road penultimate week.
It was gathered that the family, friends and neighbours of the deceased asked the command to take over the burial plans of Agboola, but the command allegedly ignored them.
Members of the deceased’s family, who were angered by the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the command, stormed the Area Commander’s office, dropped the coffin on the floor and blocked the gate leading to the office.
For several hours, the protesters barricaded Oyemekun Road, which resulted in a traffic jam.
Many motorists had to take alternative routes to get to their destinations while the protest lasted.
The state Police Public Relation Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph, said the deceased was to be buried at his hometown, adding that the area of disagreement between the family and the command was the hiring of an ambulance by the police for the burial.
He said, “The family insisted on the use of a police ambulance instead of a hired one.”
Joseph explained that the command had made necessary arrangement, including the purchase of a coffin, hiring of an ambulance and the provision of vehicles to take the family and the command’s delegation to the deceased’s hometown in Osun State.
He said the Area Commander had intervened in the matter and the family had taken the corpse back to the mortuary, adding that the late cop would be buried on Friday (today).
Source: Punch
