CP Odumosu Hakeem
By Praise Agbro, Lagos
There was confusion on Thursday around the Ile Iwe area in Meiran, Lagos State as a policeman allegedly stabbed a tricyclist to death.
The yet-to-be-identified policeman was reportedly demanding N100 bribe from the tricyclist when the incident occurred.
The incident, which occurred at about 9:00 a.m., paralysed business activities around the area, forcing commuters to trek long distances as commercial transporters abandoned their vehicles and tricycles.
The death of the tricyclist sparked off violent protest from his colleagues and commercial motorcyclists, just as area boys also joined them.
A reinforcement of policemen from different police stations and units in the state, including the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) shot teargas cannisters repeatedly to disperse the mob.
The protesters attempted to make their way into the police station but were prevented by the heavy shooting from policemen.
A commercial driver who simply identified himself as Masaku, said “the policeman stabbed the Marwa operator to death with a knife when they were struggling with the tricycle.”
He added that: “The policeman wanted to collect N100 from the tricyclist but he told him that he was just coming out and that he would give him later.
“The policeman insisted that the tricyclist must give him the money immediately and he wanted to seize the key of the tricycle, then an argument ensued between them.”
A trader in the area who pleaded anonymity, while speaking with Nigerian Tribune, said “the policeman did not want to miss today’s money because he knew that he might have closed before the tricyclist would return and that was why he insisted on getting the money immediately.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered for more deployment of policemen to the scene to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle Ajisebutu, promised to get back to our correspondent, but could not do so as of the time of filing.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
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