Tobias Sylvester
A pregnant woman, Waidat Adedeji, who was in labour died on Thursday afternoon after she was allegedly delayed by some officers at a police checkpoint for not wearing a face mask in the Ogun Waterside local government area of Ogun State.
According to reports, the deceased went into labour and was being rushed on a motorcycle by one of her children to the Ita-Otu General hospital when they were stopped by police officers at Sowore checkpoint.
It was gathered that the woman died at the police checkpoint while they were being questioned by the cops about why they were not wearing face masks and also not obeying the social distancing order of the state government.
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Angry youths in Ibiade were said to have taken the corpse of the woman to Abigi Divisional Police Headquarters and dumped it there while blaming the police for being responsible for her death.
Some of them alleged that the motorcycle carrying the woman was delayed because the police were demanding money from them before they could be allowed to go.
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However, the spokesperson of the state police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, denied the claim that police officers caused the pregnant woman’s death.
Abimbola said three occupants on a motorcycle who violated the directive of the state government, were questioned on why they did not obey the sit-at-home order.
He added that they were asked to go when they informed the police at the checkpoint that the woman was being conveyed to hospital for delivery.
“Our officers were not responsible for the pregnant woman’s death. There were three occupants on a motorcycle as against the directive of the state government that only two people should occupy a motorcycle at a time.
“They were stopped and interrogated on why they did not obey the sit at home order. They informed the police that the woman was being conveyed to hospital for delivery, and having noticed that the woman was in pains, our men allowed them to proceed,” he said
We learnt that normalcy was later restored in the area through the prompt intervention of community leaders.
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