Azeez Ololade Ijaduade.
The shooting of a popular Nollywood actor by a cop in Ogun State, was on Sunday condemned by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the state Police Command, Abiodun Alamutu.
The police boss reacted to the incident during his visit to the actor at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Iperu Ikenne Local Government Area of the state, around 11 am on Sunday.
The actor was rushed to the hospital after he was mistakenly shot by a trigger-happy cop attached to a Chinese expatriate.
However, in an early reaction to the incident, the state police publicist said the victim was only hit by a bullet shell and not a live bullet.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, the Commissioner of Police disclosed that the officer who fired the shot was already facing disciplinary action.
He said the unnamed cop had fired a bullet into the air to disperse thugs who wanted to mob the personality he was attached to.
Alamutu, who said the shooting was unfortunate and uncalled for, expressed joy that the actor was in a stable condition.
He noted that although there were times officers would need to fire shots to disperse crowds, he added that there was no justification for the one at hand.
The police chief stressed that the officer had conducted himself unprofessionally and would be made to face disciplinary actions.
Said Alamutu: “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 with, in a bid to scare them off, he had to fire some shots. It was unfortunate the victim was within that axis. It was the shell that hit the victim”.
He, however, allayed the fear of the public, saying the victim was already recuperating.
Stated he: “From what I have seen so far, he’s recuperating, only that 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 none is affected. But that can only be certified by the medical experts”.
