4 Policemen Held for Shooting Innocent Civilian

Matilda Omonaiye/

Four policemen who reportedly shot an innocent man in Lagos last Friday have been arrested.

NewsmakersNG learnt that the four were arrested by the X-squad section of the Lagos State police command, sequel to the order of the commissioner, Mr. Imohimi Edgal.

The PUNCH had on Wednesday published a report of the incident, which occured at the toll gate of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

The policemen, who claimed to be chasing a suspected criminal, had reportedly shot indiscriminately after being stopped by attendants at the toll gate, who could not easily identify them because they were in mufti.

It was in the process that the victim, identified as Tunde Adeparusi, who was driving through the toll gate, was hit in the face by a stray bullet.

The policemen, rather than attending to their victim, hurriedly packed the empty shells of their bullets and fled the scene.

NewsmakersNG gathered that the men were later identified through the close circuit camera at the toll gate.

Spokesman for the command, CSP Chike Oti, said in a statement today that the policemen have been detained pending the outcome of investigations, after which they will be made to face trial.

The statement by Oti read: “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Edgal Imohimi, yesterday ordered the arrest of four policemen alleged to have fired some shots at the airport tollgate, hitting one Tunde Adeparusi, leaving him injured.

“The incident happened at the tollgate end of the airport on 20/07/2018 and on receipt of the report, the CP immediately ordered the Command X-Squad section to fish out the policemen involved.

“Diligent investigation led to the arrest of the policemen: Inspector Christian Offor, Inspector Kingsley Umeji, Sergeant David Eguavoen and Sergeant Paul Ebo

“The above named policemen are under investigation at X-Squad section and if the allegation against them is established, they will be marched before the Command’s Provost for their orderly room trials.

“The Command wishes to assure members of the public that in line with its tradition of accountability, the outcome of the trial will be made public as usual.

“The CP reiterates that belligerent policemen and their likes who have refused to key into the professional ethos of the Force have no room in this era of democratic policing. He therefore enjoins police officers in Lagos to be professional in the discharge of their duties.”

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