EXCLUSIVE: Okada Escape Death After Police Brutalization

A commercial motorcyclist Tuesday escaped death after an encounter with  a policeman attached to the  Alade Police Station in Lagos. Eyewitnesses accused the policeman of allegedly attempting to strangle the motorcyclist, identified as Jamiu Hanze,  at Shomolu area of the state during an altercation.

They said a team of policemen, who were trying to enforce the Lagos traffic law that restricts the operation of commercial motorcyclists on  some roads,  had  pursued Hanze who fled on sighting them. After catching up with him, he was said to have been dragged down from the motorcycle and hit with the butt of the policemen’s rifles.

It was gathered that when the victim tried to defend himself, one of the policemen  allegedly tried to strangle him as he passed out. The victim was rushed to Oguntolu General Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.

Infuriated by the  action of the policemen, passers-by marched on the police station over the ill-treatment of Hanze. The protest was however hijacked by hoodlums, who brandishing  weapons, stormed the police station to raze it.  But they were stopped by a detachment of Rapid Response Squad. Hanze’s mother, simply identified as Iya Moria, urged the police  to investigate the matter and bring the erring officers to book.