Police shoot prince to death, hoodlums burn palace in Osun

Tragedy struck on Wednesday when policemen allegedly shot a prince, Lukman Olatunji, to death during a scuffle at the entrance to the Akinrun of Ikirun palace, in the Ikirun area of Osun State.

Punch gathered that the palace had been locked since the new Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Olalekan Akadiri, became the monarch of the town.

In a bid to enable the monarch gain entry into the palace, the armed policemen reportedly stormed the premises to open it.

The situation created unrest as the policemen, while opening fire to scare hoodlums protesting 

against their action in the community, allegedly shot Olatunji dead.

No fewer than four other persons reportedly sustained bullet wounds when policemen invaded the premises of the palace.

Angered by the development, youths in the community set a building in the palace ablaze and residents scampered to safety due to the tension in the area.

Punch reports, Narrating how the incident happened, a resident in the community, Gboyega 

Adebayo, said he was on his way to purchase something in the area when he saw policemen 

storming the palace, adding that a stray bullet from one of the policemen claimed the life of the prince.

Olatunji’s elder brother, Tajudeen Gboleru, during a telephone conversation with our correspondent, said the policemen were attempting to enter the palace when they shot his 

brother dead, adding that someone led the policemen to the palace.

Punch gathered that men of the state Fire Service were alerted to put out the fire but the angry mob attacked them with charms.

The mob also vandalised the fire truck as the firemen fled the scene for their safety.

However, three firemen reportedly sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to hospital for treatment.

Contacted, the spokesperson for Fire Service in the state, Ibrahim Adekunle, confirmed the attack on the firemen.

Reacting to the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, denied killing the deceased, adding that the policemen visited the palace to protect those renovating the building.

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