By Ola Ajayi
IBADAN—ANTI-riot policemen had a hectic time quelling a riot that broke out after a school pupil was crushed to death by some suspected smugglers who were trying to escape arrest at Samonda area of Ibadan.

According to an eye witness, the incident which left another boy seriously injured happened around 7.22am yesterday.

The source said some smugglers of used vehicles who were being chased by policemen were driving against the traffic and ran into the two boys who were on their way to school.

After refusing to stop as ordered by the policemen at a check point, the smugglers numbering three fled the scene and were trying to escape being shot by the policemen.

But, unfortunately, they reportedly crushed the two boys whose names were given as Opeyemi and Timilehin Olatubosun aged 6 and 9.

The death of one of the boys was protested by some irate youths who were said to have vented their anger on any policeman they saw and beat them up.

Police had to move Armoured Personnel Carrier loaded with armed policemen to the place and the anti riot policemen fired tear gas canisters to disperse the angry youths.

To check the riot from escalating, the Divisional Police Officer, Sango Mrs. Sybil Akinfenwa, took the parents of the children, Mufuli Olatubosun, to the station.

It was gathered that the father of the deceased boy sobbed uncontrollably for the loss of his boy who just bade him farewell some minutes before that time.

The state police command said it had been informed about the incident but was still making efforts to get to the genesis of the incident.