Updated: SARS Officers Allegedly Kill Innocent Cleaner During Raid in Lagos

Matilda Omonaiye/

Men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have reportedly shot dead an innocent man during a raid on a suspected Indian hemp joint in Ilupeju, Lagos this morning.

NewsmakersNG learnt that the incident happened about 9am.

The elderly victim, identified simply as Francis, is said to be a popular cleaner, who helped in cleaning majority of the compounds in the neighbourhood.

Eyewitnesses said the SARS officers started shooting sporadically the moment they arrived at joint located on Ajisegiri street.

It was learnt that the victim was hit by a stray bullet while he was busy cleaning a compound nearby.

The policemen reportedly fled the scene immediately.

A photo of the incident posted on social media by a witness revealed a bucket containing brooms, a parker, and brush which are tools of the deceased, beside his remains.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has denied that its officers were responsible for the killing.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, said the victim was hit by a stray bullet fired by suspected robbers during an “encounter” between the gunmen and officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

Elkana made the claim in a statement titled, ‘One hit by stray bullet during an encounter between SARS operatives and notorious armed robbers/cultists in Lagos’.

The statement reads: “On July 15, 2019 around 7:30 a.m., SARS operatives led by Inspector Mohammed Akeem, while being led by a notorious gang leader, Ikechukwu Monye, 39-years-old, to where their arms were kept, were ambushed by members of the gang along Ajisegiri Street, Ilupeju.

“The assailants shot indiscriminately and in the process killed a middle-aged man who was passing by.

“Reinforcement was quickly drafted to the scene. The whole area has been cordoned off with a view to apprehending members of the gang and bring them to justice.”

The police spokesman noted that violent attacks between members of the Aiye and Eiye confraternities had been regular in the area.

He said the gang in question had been responsible for a series of robberies in the Ilupeju area and its environs, adding that they had been on the police wanted list for six murders.

“The command condemns the senseless killings of innocent persons by those criminal elements and will not also tolerate attacks on its personnel by criminal elements and vows to bring an end to the activities of this deadly gang.

“Members of the public are enjoyed to remain calm as the command has intensified patrols and surveillance in the affected areas.

“Meanwhile, the corpse of the victim of this violent attack has been removed and deposited at the mortuary for postmortem examination.

“The command extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased person and assures them that justice will prevail,” the statement adds.

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