Forensic Test Clears Oyo Policemen in 2021 Shooting of Nurudeen Azeez

The Oyo State Police Command has said forensic investigations found no evidence linking two police officers to the shooting of Nurudeen Azeez in Ibadan in 2021.

The command made the clarification in a statement on Saturday following the resurfacing of Azeez’s allegation in a viral video and newspaper publication.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the allegation was investigated and concluded by the command in 2021.

The incident occurred on August 16, 2021, when Inspector Gbenga Ayodele and Sergeant Ayilaran Boluwaji, both attached to Agodi Divisional Police Headquarters, were on night duty near Koltol Hotel, Ikolaba, Ibadan.

The police said a motorist had approached the officers and reported that he was being pursued by armed robbers.

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Shortly afterwards, gunshots were heard from the direction of Bino Hotel, prompting the officers to move towards the area to assess the situation.

During a forensic sweep of the scene, investigators recovered a locally fabricated pistol.

The command said eyewitnesses also informed investigators that a motorcyclist had been shot and taken to Molly Specialist Hospital before being transferred to Kehinde Ege Traditional Hospital, where pellets were extracted from his body.

Azeez’s elder brother, Nurudeen Musa, reportedly told investigators that he witnessed the removal of the projectiles and that 15 pellets were extracted, although 13 were documented and six registered as exhibits.

The two police officers accused of shooting Azeez were subsequently investigated, with their duty and firearm records obtained.

According to the command, the records showed that the officers had signed out two AK-47 rifles for their assignment that night.

The firearms were subjected to forensic examination to determine whether they were used in the shooting.

“The forensic examination established that neither AK-47 rifle had been fired in connection with the incident,” the statement said.

The command added that the pellets recovered from Azeez were also inconsistent with AK-47 ammunition.

“There was therefore no ballistic or forensic evidence linking either police firearm to the injury sustained by the victim,” it said.

However, the locally fabricated pistol recovered at the scene was also examined and found to have characteristics consistent with recent discharge.

The police noted that the finding did not establish who had fired the weapon.

“Based on the totality of the evidence, the investigation concluded that the allegation that either of the two police officers shot Nurudeen Azeez was not substantiated,” the command said.

It acknowledged that Azeez sustained a genuine gunshot injury but said the investigation could not establish the identity of the person responsible.

“While the victim sustained a genuine gunshot injury, the evidence available did not establish the identity of the person responsible for the shooting,” the statement added.

The command urged members of the public, journalists and social media users to exercise caution when sharing allegations, particularly where concluded investigations are available.

It reaffirmed its commitment to “transparency, accountability and evidence-based investigation of allegations of police misconduct” while respecting the rights of all persons.