Kehinde Fajobi
An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) with the Lagos State Police Command was killed by an angry mob in Agege on Saturday morning after responding to an accident involving a commercial motorcyclist (Okada rider) and a truck at WEMCO junction by Mobil Road.
The police had arrived at the scene around 1:40 a.m. to evacuate the truck that reportedly knocked down the Okada rider. However, the riders, angered by the accident, demanded that the truck be set on fire and resisted the police officers’ attempts to tow it.
Lagos State Police Command spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, stating that the Okada rider had collided with the trailer and died on the spot.
“The police team received a distress call about an accident at WEMCO junction involving an Okada rider and a trailer. Preliminary investigation revealed that the Okada rider ran into the trailer, resulting in his death.”
Hundeyin explained that as the police tried to evacuate the truck, they were attacked by the gathered Okada riders.
“During the attack, one ASP, aged 46, was struck on the head and died instantly, while the truck driver managed to escape,” he said.
The police have arrested five suspects involved in the incident and are conducting a manhunt to apprehend others.
“The killing of the officer was needless and uncalled for,” Hundeyin remarked.
He assured the public that further arrests would be made as investigations continue.