An unidentified police officer returning from work on Tuesday was knocked down on a motorcycle by a police van in Ekiti State.
Eight of the officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) also sustained serious injuries in the accident.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ekiti, ASP Sunday Abutu, said the accident occurred during a response to a distress call from the divisional police officer in Ikole Ekiti.
He said the van was one of the three vehicles deployed for reinforcement to arrest some cultists who had been terrorising the people of Ikole and its environs.
“Unfortunately, while on their way, one of the three patrol vehicles developed a mechanical fault, went off its lane and hit an oncoming motorcycle ridden by a policeman who had closed from work and was returning home.
“The policeman was rushed to the hospital for medical attention but was confirmed dead by a medical doctor while eight other RRS operatives in the patrol vehicle sustained different degrees of injury and are currently in the hospital receiving medical attention.”
The PPRO expressed the condolences of the Commissioner of Police, Tunde Mobayo, to the family of the deceased policeman.
He urged the public to disregard fake news that could cause tension and portray the police in a bad light.
