The Oyo State Police Command says forensic findings have cleared two of its officers of involvement in the 2021 shooting of Nurudeen Azeez, a graduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, said an investigation conducted shortly after the incident found no evidence linking Inspector Gbenga Ayodele and Sergeant Ayilaran Boluwaji to the shooting.
The case resurfaced following a viral video and renewed media reports, prompting the police to restate their position.
Azeez, 30, was shot on August 16, 2021, while riding on a commercial motorcycle in Ibadan. He said he was caught in traffic near Idi-Ape when the rider took an alternative route and gunshots rang out, leaving him with a spinal injury.
He alleged that officers at the scene fled after the incident and that support promised for his treatment later declined.
However, the police said forensic analysis did not support claims that their officers fired the shot. According to the statement, both officers had signed out AK-47 rifles, but examinations confirmed the weapons were not discharged during the incident.
It added that pellets recovered from the victim were inconsistent with AK-47 ammunition. A locally made pistol found at the scene showed signs of recent use, but investigators could not determine who fired it.
“While the victim sustained a genuine gunshot injury, the available evidence did not establish the identity of the shooter,” the statement said.
The police maintained that, based on the totality of evidence, the allegation against the officers was not substantiated.
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