Motorcyclist dies during police stop-and-search in Ibadan

By Adejayan Gbenga

A 35-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Sanni Salisu, has died in Moniya, Ibadan, after slumping during a police stop-and-search operation, an incident that triggered violent protests and the burning of a police outpost.

The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the development, stating that two officers attached to the Kara Police Outpost intercepted Salisu while he was riding his motorcycle.

According to the Command’s spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, the situation escalated when the rider suddenly developed symptoms consistent with an epileptic seizure during the encounter.

He further explained that Salisu slumped at the scene and became unresponsive. Consequently, the officers rushed him to Modupe Hospital, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

Eventually, news of his death quickly spread across Moniya, sparking outrage among residents who gathered in protest over the incident.

However, while some residents accused the police of foul play, the Command maintained that the death resulted from a medical emergency and not any form of assault or misconduct.

The tension later escalated as a group of youths attacked the Kara Police Outpost, setting parts of the facility ablaze. During the unrest, three motorcycles and a Mazda pick-up patrol vehicle were destroyed, while a police officer reportedly sustained severe burns.

Subsequently, security reinforcements were deployed to restore order, and the officers involved in the stop-and-search operation have been taken into custody pending investigation. In the same vein, Salisu’s remains have been deposited at the Adeoyo State Hospital Mortuary for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Meanwhile, the police have appealed for calm, urging residents to refrain from spreading unverified information, and noting that normalcy has gradually returned to the area.