POLICE BRUTALITY: POWER DRUNK POLICE OFFICER SHOOTS "OKADA" DRIVER DEAD IN LAGOS

The police in Lagos have launched a manhunt for an Assistant Superintendent of Police, identified simply as Mohammed, who allegedly shot dead a tricycle driver, Akeem Aranse, during an argument in the Shasha, Akowonjo area of Lagos state.

It was learnt that Mohammed had boarded a commercial motorcycle (okada) which was hit by the tricycle operator on Kareem Laka Street in the Egbeda area, the incident led to an argument which eyewitnesses explained that some passersby had tried to settle the skirmish but the police officer  remained adamant.ASP, eventually brought out his pistol   and shot the tricycle driver in the chest, reportedly died on the spot.

Akeem’s elder brother, Sulaimon,  said, “We had been living together in this house since he was a boy. We both came from our hometown in the Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State to work in Lagos. He used to visit his family in Ibadan every three weeks. He was planning to go again this weekend when the tragic incident occurred.

“I was at a friend’s place when I was called about the incident. It was very shocking. Akeem did not have a record of street fighting or violence. He was said to have apologized to the police officer, who was not in uniform, but the man still shot him. The police have taken his corpse to a morgue in Yaba.

“The extended family members would be expecting him in Ibadan, but we have told his wife about the incident.”

The Chairman, Tricycle Drivers’ Association in Shasha Akowonjo, Mr. Isiaka Yekini, said the union would work with the police at the State Criminal Investigation Department to get the suspect.

He said, “We have been invited by the SCID to come on Monday (today) for questioning.

“When the incident happened, one of our members trailed the ASP to his apartment on Unity Close. He has, however, fled the house.

“It was at about 6.30pm on that day that I received a phone call that one of our members had been shot dead. It was very shocking.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the incident, adding that the police were intensifying efforts to arrest the ASP.

He said, “We have identified the policeman, but he has been on the run. We are making efforts to arrest him.

“His action is alien to the police culture. It is not in line with the vision and mission of the Lagos State Police Command.”

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