Report that the death of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Ibara in Ogun State was spiritual and aftermath of the pounding some masquerades took in the hands of men from the station has drawn response from the police authorities.
Some masquerades a week ago were beaten by police officers from Ibara Division and arrested for defying government order on gathering at Ileja area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The moment they were beaten and unmasked was captured on camera and posted online where it raked up plenty views with masquerades becoming punchline of many jokes.
However following the death of the DPO, rumour mill suggest that it was the aftermath of the masquerades episode, a claim the state command denounced, setting the record straight in a statement released by its spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi.
The statement reads in part: “The command wouldn’t have joined issues with those circulating the fake news but the wrong and mischievous impression needs to be clarified. The late DPO has been on sick bed for the past one month now battling with an ailment, which later resulted to his untimely death. Contrary to what the mischief-makers wanted the public to believe, the late DPO was not on duty when the said masquerade was arrested because he was in the hospital.
“The masquerade was arrested on Sunday, March 29, for violating the government directives while the DPO was on sick bed at Federal Medical Center, Idi Aba, Abeokuta, until he breathe his last, he was not even aware of the said masquerade’s arrest. It will be ignorant of anyone to attribute his death to the arrest of the recalcitrant masquerade just to attract traffic to his or her blog.
“Anybody who may have had reason to meet the late DPO when he was alive will attest to his humble and polite nature. He was an embodiment of what a gentleman officer should be and the Nigeria Police Force, Ogun State Police Command, in particular, will forever miss him.
“To those circulating the unfounded rumour, your mischievous information will not deter us from carrying out our constitutional duty no matter who is involved. If Pastors and Imams can be arrested for violating the government directives, no masquerade should think of being above the law.”
