A police officer was killed in the early hours of Saturday during a violent clash between commercial motorcycle riders, known as Okada riders, and a police team in the Agege area of Lagos State. The incident occurred at the WEMCO junction by Mobil Road, where the police had responded to a reported accident involving an Okada rider and a trailer.
The deceased officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) whose identity has not yet been released, led the team that arrived at the scene around 1:40 a.m. to manage the aftermath of the accident. According to the police, a preliminary investigation revealed that the Okada rider had run into the trailer, resulting in his death.
The police team encountered resistance from a large group of Okada riders who had gathered at the accident scene. The riders demanded that the trailer involved in the accident be set on fire, escalating tensions. As the police team attempted to evacuate the truck, the situation turned violent.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, confirmed the tragic incident.
“The killing of the policeman was needless and uncalled for,” Hundeyin told Daily Trust.
He explained that the police team was simply trying to maintain order when they came under attack from the enraged Okada riders.
Hundeyin shared further details of the confrontation, noting that the officer suffered a fatal head injury during the assault. “One ASP, 46 years old, was injured on the head and died on the spot while the truck driver escaped,” he said.
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The Lagos State Police Command has since arrested five suspects in connection with the violent attack.
“Five suspects have since been arrested, and a manhunt for others is on,” Hundeyin added, emphasizing the commitment of the police to bring those responsible to justice.
The death of the police officer has sparked concerns about the increasing incidents of violence involving Okada riders in Lagos. The police have vowed to intensify efforts to maintain order in the area and prevent such occurrences in the future.