A yet-to-be-identified labourer was reportedly shot dead on Wednesday, while three others sustained critical injuries, during an altercation involving the Crack Squad of the Ebonyi State Police Command at Ugwuechara Junction in Abakaliki.

Witnesses say the incident began when members of the Crack Squad stopped a motorcycle rider, accusing him of fraud and attempting to seize his motorcycle.

The rider reportedly identified himself as a member of the military but was allegedly assaulted by the operatives.

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An eyewitness recounted, “As the policemen removed his cap and started hitting him with their guns, the bike man tried to resist them, possibly to snatch one of their guns.

“One of the team opened fire, which killed one of the labour seekers, who usually gather at the junction to look for daily jobs. Three persons were wounded and were rushed to the hospital.”

The deceased, a labourer waiting for work at the junction, was struck by the gunfire. Among the injured are a young apprentice at a barbershop and a female passer-by.

Witnesses say the police operatives took the body of the deceased and the motorcycle rider to their station after the incident.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi, Joshua Ukandu, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.

However, Obinna Mbam, the Special Assistant on Internal Security to Governor Francis Nwifuru, confirmed the incident.

“Normalcy has returned to the area,” Mr. Mbam said. “The state government will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

The incident has sparked outrage among residents of Ebonyi State, who have raised concerns about the increasing cases of police brutality, extortion, and indiscriminate arrests.

Many residents also expressed dissatisfaction with the Crack Squad, which was established as part of police reforms following the disbandment of the controversial Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in 2020.

Amidst tension in Osun, Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for peace to allow the authorities to investigate and deliver justice on the attempted murder of Mr Alowonle Iyanda, the state motor transport system chairman.

The Governor particularly pleaded with transport workers statewide not to take laws into their hands and allow state and federal authorities to address the issue for justice to prevail.

The Governor noted that he had spoken to the Inspector General of Police and that immediate actions have been directed by the police authorities to bring to book those who shot the State Park Management System chairman.

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“I call on Osun transport workers to maintain peace and not to take laws into their own hands. I have acted on this sad incident. I spoke with the police Chief and I had a closed door meeting with the Commissioner of Police. Justice will be served.

“We will not allow agents of violence to destroy the peace and stability of our dear state. Do not be provoked to violence. Go about your normal duties while we handle this serious threat to the peace of our state”, the Governor was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, following the fatal shooting of the Chairman of Osun State Motor Transport System, Comrade Iyanda Alowonle, the Inspector General of Police has ordered immediate arrest and prosecution of Head of Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Osun State, Moses Lohor and members of his team for attempted murder.

This was confirmed by the Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on Security, Samuel Ojo Esq after a closed door meeting between the Governor and the State Commissioner of Police.

Moses Lohor had shot Mr Alowonle in the abdomen at the police station after his arrest over a domestic brawl with a neighbor. The park chairman is currently on life support at the Intensive Care Unit of the Osun State Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

Mr Ojo narrated that the police authorities frowned at Moses’ conduct as unprofessional, illegal, unauthorized, and against operational code, noting that Moses and his men are about to be moved to Abuja this morning.

“We can confirm that the police authorities at the highest level have acted decisively on this matter. A clear punitive directive was issued by the IG. Mr Governor has directed we follow up to ensure that justice is served”, Mr Ojo noted.

The Osun State Government has raised alarm over the shooting to near death in police custody of the Chairman of the Osun Transport Management System, Comrade Iyanda Alowonle over a domestic matter.

This was contained in a statement on Tuesday in Osogbo, which has it that Alowonle is presently on life support at the Intensive Care Unit of the Osun State Teaching Hospital after a gunshot wound in the abdomen while in the custody of the police at Osogbo.

It was gathered that video clips of Alowonle in handcuffs and under interrogation circulating in the media space dispelled any excuse that the park chairman was trying to escape.

The Osun State Government asserted that “The fact that he was shot in the abdomen as video from his hospital bed confirmed proved that he was shot at close range with intent to eliminate him.”

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It added that “Interactions between the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the State Governor, Mr Samuel Ojo and the Head of Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Moses Lohor provided direct proof that the incident was premeditated to murder Mr Alowonle.

“We also note that the issue that generated the purported arrest was a civil matter, not criminally related to have warranted the involvement of Mr Moses Lohor, the head of the Anti-Kidnapping squad except for the repeat of a recent pattern of police harassment of officials of the state government on partisan motivation.

“The programmed attempted murder of Mr Alowonle is just one in the series of shootings and attacks on officials of the state by the head of anti-kidnapping squad who regularly acted with impunity and who has not hidden his vow to eliminate supporters of the state government.

“As we summoned several meetings to calm frayed nerves today, we struggled hard to stop reprisal attacks against police establishments across the state due to what the public now see as police partisan conduct in breach of the law.

“As we regret a situation in which law enforcers are becoming threat to peace and stability of the state, the state government therefore demands the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser to take judicious note of the increasing breach of state peace by the hostile conduct of some police officers who now shot at innocent civilians and suspects at will.

“We call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr Moses Lohor, the Head of the Anti- Kidnapping Squad for his wilful act of attempted murder.

“We demand police impartiality and commitment to rule of law without fixation on partisan considerations;

“We also call the attention of the National Security Adviser to the increasing threat to peace in Osun state amidst threat to unleash violence ahead of 2026 election

“We call on the Inspector General of Police to rise to the occasion and abandon any signal that may portray him as acting against Osun peace and stability”, the statement concluded.