… Police launch manhunt
Lagos State Police Command has launched a manhunt for commercial motorcyclists, popularly called ‘Okada riders’, who allegedly attacked and killed a yet-to-be-identified Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, during a traffic enforcement operation in Agege area of the state.
The unfortunate incident, it was gathered, happened in the wee hours of today, Saturday.
According to an eyewitness, the officer led a team of policemen to an scene around the WEMCO Junction by Mobil Road, Agege.
In an ensuing melee, the police officer and his team came under attack from Okada riders, who expressed dissatisfaction with the police team over the manner of handling the issue.
It was gathered that the the police officer was unlucky as the Okada riders pounced on him, after attacking others, who took to their heels.
Following the alleged murder, the Police subsequently arrested about five of the suspects, just as search for others have been intensified.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development.
He described the act as, “needless and uncalled for.”
According to Hundeyin, “The police team got a distress call at about 1.40 a.m. on Saturday of a fatal accident that involved Okada rider and a trailer at WEMCO Junction, Mobil Road by Pen Cinema Agege.
“The police promptly responded to it for intervention.”
The police spokesman revealed that a preliminary investigation revealed that an Okada rider ran into the trailer, which led to his death.
Hundeyin said: “On getting to the scene, the team met a large number of motorcycle riders, who had gathered at the scene.
“However, the patrol team, in the process of evacuating the truck, came under attack by the riders who insisted on torching the truck.
“As a result of which one ASP, aged 46, was injured on the head and died on the spot, while the truck driver escaped.
“Five suspects have since been arrested, and manhunt for others is on.