Lagos Police Command Arrest Killer Sergeant

The victim

The Lagos State Police Command today said it has arrested a sergeant, one Otene Godwin with force no 355272 attached to Area ‘E’ Command for allegedly shooting one Oyoma Edewor to death.

Edewor, a 32-year-old old United Kingdom (UK) returnee, who was a building finishing contractor and was the fourth child in a family of 13, was shot dead in cold blood, an action the bereaved family demanded justice must be done.

According to eyewitness account, the victim who was shot while he was towing a vehicle, was accosted by the trigger-happy policeman and ordered to stop.

Having failed to obey the order, the police sergeant who became infuriated at the blatant disregard of his orders, was said to have opened fire on the occupants of the vehicle.

A stray bullet hit the deceased in the hand while other occupants of the vehicle fled to safety, abandoning him in a pool of his blood.

He died hours later after he was left unattended and though the Area E Commander, ACP Dan Okoro raced to the scene immediately he was intimated on the situation on ground and rushed the deceased to the hospital where he was confirmed dead by a doctor.

Confirming the arrest, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the incident occurred over the weekend along Alakija area of Festac Town.

She said the suspect had abandoned his duty post as the Station Guard at Area ‘E’ Command and left for Alakija area where the unfortunate incident occurred, adding that he is already in police custody.

She said, "The Nigeria Police is a disciplined organisation and would never tolerate any act of indiscipline from its members. The circumstances surrounding the shooting incident is currently being investigated.

"Also, the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, has appealed to members of the public to remain calm and maintain peace as justice would definitely be done.

"He has also assured the deceased family that investigation would be concluded in good time and the report made public, while ensuring that justice is done.

As at press time, Manko who was represented by Area E commander, ACP Okoro, paid a condolence visit to the deceased family, where he assured the family that the suspect was on his own and would answer for his sins.