I never meant to harm hospitalised kids, says dismissed cop

By Ola Ajayi
The policeman, Mr. Raymond Egbongbonwuyi, who fired tear gas in a ward at the Oni Memorial Children’s Hospital, Ibadan last week said yesterday that he did not mean to harm any of the children on the fateful day.

While parading the suspect alongside other suspects arrested in connection with criminal activities at the State Police headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta, apologised on behalf of the police for the irrational behaviour of the suspect.

Mr. Bolanta apologised to Nigerians, including the parents of the affected children and staff of the hospital, adding that the action of the policeman was very embarrassing.

Reiterating that the suspect had been dismissed from the force, he said, “May I use this medium to apologize on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, the state command, officers and men of the command for the embarrassing and un-police like action of the ex-policeman. The apology is to the general public whose sensibility has been assaulted by the incident, the Medical personnel of Oni & Sons Memorial Hospital and by extension, Oyo State.”