Protests as policeman kills okada rider, shoots woman

There was pandemonium in Ladega, Ojubode area of Ikorodu, Lagos State, on Tuesday after a policeman attached to the Rapid Response Squad allegedly killed a commercial motorcycle rider, popularly called okada rider.  Read more

PUNCH Metro learnt that the policeman, identified simply as Haruna, in company with three of his colleagues, had arrested the okada riders for allegedly breaking the state traffic law. He opened fire on the rider, identified only as Lekan, when he reisisted the arrest.

It was learnt that a passerby, Modikat Babatunde, was also hit by the bullet.

Chairman, Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State, Ikorodu Branch, Mr. Kayode Jimoh, told our correspondent that the incident occurred around 2.30pm.

Jimoh said, “Around 2.30pm, four policemen attached to RRS came in a white Toyota Hilux van and parked around Ladega junction. The police driver remained inside the van while three policemen, identified as Haruna, Ayodele and Ismaila, alighted from the vehicle.

“The policemen were trying to seize the bike from Lekan but he resisted. Haruna suddenly cocked his rifle and opened fire, killing him on the spot. The bullet also injured a woman who was close by.”

It was learnt that the incident compounded the usual traffic snarl in the area as colleagues of the deceased protested the killing of their colleague.

The killer policeman and his team were said to have fled after the incident.

The second victim, Babatunde, it was learnt, sustained a superficial injury on her hand.

Babatunde said, “I went to collect N50,000 as part of my contribution to a cooperative society when I heard gunshots. The bullet hit me in the hand but it did not penetrate.

“Unfortunately, in the pandemonium, the N50,000 was stolen. The government must see to it that those policemen are brought to justice.”

Jimoh lamented the extortion by policemen, adding that he had complained many times to the police authorities about the excesses of RRS policemen.

He  said it was unfortunate that many okada riders had been killed in the state by policemen since the enforcement of traffic law began last year and no policeman had been arrested.

He said, “Haruna and his colleagues are very notorious for extortion, most times they don’t even arrest errant okada riders. They go to places that are not restricted and seize the motorcycles.

“They then take the okada to Agric area of Ikorodu and urge you to negotiate the release of the impounded okadas. They usually extort between N10, 000 and N20,000 from us before releasing our bikes.”

It was learnt that the commander, RRS, ACP Hakeem Odumosu, came to the area to restore normalcy. Odumosu was said to have promised the irate mob that justice would be served.

Soldiers were also said to have arrived the area to assist the police.

As of 6pm, however, the mob refused to allow the police to take the corpse away as they alleged foul play.

When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said she would call back as she had yet to get full details on the incident.

In a related develpment, a policeman allegedly shot and killed a youth in Ajah area of the state.

The youth was said to have been killed by the police because he stabbed another man in Ilaje area during a clash.

  by Eniola Akinkuotu

Culled from Punch newspaper