Exclusive: Again, Police Kill Commercial Motorcyclist in Lagos

Lagos PRO 

Pandemonium erupted at Ladega, Ojubode area of Ikorodu, Lagos State, yesterday evening after a policeman attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) allegedly shot and killed a commercial motorcycle rider popularly known as Okada.

The policeman who was simply identified simply as Haruna, in company of three of his colleagues, had stormed the area to arrest defaulters of the state government's ban, which restricts Okada riders from plying about 475 roads in the state.

It was gathered that the officer had on attempt to stop the deceased who was identified as Lekan from escaping  shot him at close range, also injuring two other persons including a female pedestrian.

Eyewitness account said the officers who were simply identified as Haruna, Ayodele and Ismaila had stormed the area in a white Toyota Hilux van and began to seize motorcycles from defaulters.

The source claimed the policeman was trying to collect the motorcycle from Lekan and when he resisted, shot him point blank before they fled in their patrol vehicle.

Eyewitness account also claimed Haruna and his colleagues were very notorious for extortion, going as far as seizing motorcycles from unrestricted roads so that the owners would pay them to release their bikes.

It was also gathered that immediately the officers committed the said act, they fled the area to avoid the anger of the mob which consisted mostly of the deceased's colleagues.

The mob were said to have  blocked  the major roads in the ancient town and also invaded Ikorodu  Central Motor Park , where they violently prevented commercial vehicles from picking and discharging passengers. 

The protest incited panic as most of the roads were still closed as at press time as the angry mob , wielding sticks and other dangerous weapons took to the street to register their grievances. 

Also, businesses and night trade were ground to a halt as the traders  hurriedly closed their shops to prevent the mob from vandalising their wares.

However, in the late hours of the evening, the RRS  Commander, ACP Hakeem Odumosu, was said to have gone to the area to restore normalcy with the promise that justice would be meted out.