Kwara police deny shooting motorcyclist as accounts conflict over Oyun Bridge incident
Kwara State Police says no one was shot during an incident involving 23-year-old motorcyclist Abdurasaq Lukman at Oyun Bridge in Ilorin, but a civilian account alleges police gunfire. Available video does not establish how Lukman was injured.
ILORIN — The Kwara State Police Command has denied allegations that its officers shot a 23-year-old motorcyclist during an incident at Oyun Bridge, as conflicting accounts leave the cause of the rider’s injuries unresolved.
Police identified the motorcyclist as Abdurasaq Lukman, 23, and said no person was shot during the September 23 incident.
According to the command, officers were conducting patrol and stop-and-search duties around Oyun Bridge when Lukman, allegedly travelling at high speed, struck Corporal Saka Azeez.
Police says Azeez suffered serious head injuries and a fracture, while Lukman sustained what the command described as minor injuries.
Those details represent the police account. IDNN has not independently established how Lukman was injured or whether a collision explains the injuries seen after the incident.
Video does not establish cause of injury
Punch reported that video showed an unconscious man identified in coverage as Lukman lying on the ground.
The footage does not establish how he was injured.
An earlier civilian account alleged that police shot Lukman during an altercation around Oyun Bridge. No medical report, ballistic evidence or independently verified footage reviewed by IDNN establishes that a shooting occurred.
The shooting allegation therefore remains unresolved.
Police give different account
Kwara Police says Lukman was riding at high speed when he struck Corporal Azeez during the stop-and-search operation.
The command says Azeez sustained a head injury and fracture and remained under medical care.
Police also says Lukman was taken for treatment.
IDNN has not independently obtained medical records establishing the nature of either man’s injuries or confirming that the alleged collision accounts for Lukman’s condition.
The two accounts must therefore remain separate: a civilian source alleges police gunfire, while police denies any shooting and alleges a motorcycle collision.
Lukman remains in police custody, police says
Police says Lukman was treated and discharged but remained in custody assisting its investigation.
The material reviewed by IDNN does not establish the precise legal basis for that continued custody, whether a formal allegation has been made against him or whether he has been charged with an offence.
Being in custody does not establish guilt.
A response from Lukman, his family or legal representative remains an important follow-up.
Extortion allegation remains unverified
Reporting surrounding the incident also carried allegations that officers operating around the Oyun Bridge area had harassed or extorted young people.
Those claims remain allegations.
IDNN has not established a disciplinary finding, investigation outcome or other independent evidence proving that extortion occurred during the September 23 incident.
The claim should therefore not be presented as established police misconduct.
Medical evidence could resolve central dispute
The most important unresolved question is the nature of Lukman’s injuries.
If medical records establish a gunshot wound, that would materially affect the police denial. If they establish injuries consistent with a collision, that would also materially affect the civilian account.
A complete video chronology, independent eyewitness testimony and medical documentation could help determine what happened before Lukman was seen injured at the scene.
For now, the established position remains limited: an incident involving Lukman and police occurred at Oyun Bridge; Lukman and a police corporal were reported injured; police deny a shooting and alleges a collision, while a civilian account alleges police gunfire. IDNN has not independently established which account explains Lukman’s injuries.
