Angry Okada Riders Killed 2 Police Officers In Festac Lagos

Two policemen serving at Area ‘E’ Festac Town,
Lagos State, western Nigeria, have been
reportedly lynched by angry commercial
motorcycle riders in the area.
Sources said the victims, a sergeant and an
inspector simply called Bashiru, were lynched
when they attempted to seize some motorcycles
at notorious spot called Aso Rock in Festac
Town.
P.M.NEWS learnt that a team of police officers
raided the place located at 7th Avenue, 72 Road
at about 1.30a.m to seize commercial
motorcycles parked inside the compound by
owners who reside there.
However, the four officers who went on the
operation on Tuesday were overpowered and
disarmed.
While two of them were clubbed to death, the
other two escaped.
After the mob action, occupants of the large
compound fled.
An eye witness said the men came in a police van
and forced themselves into the compound and
started carting motorcycles into the van at that
time of the night.
When efforts by the residents to stop the
policemen failed, they decided to attack the
officers. It was not yet certain whether the
operation was illegal or not.
The residents suspected that they might have
come on illegal duty to extort money from them.
The police later went to the place and took away
their slain colleagues.
When P.M.NEWS visited the spot on Thursday, it
was deserted and a police Armoured Personnel
Carrier, APC, marked RRS 182 LA belonging to
Area ‘E’ Command was stationed at the place.
A team of RRS officers from Alausa, Ikeja, came
in five vehicles positioned themselves opposite
the place.
Efforts to speak with the officers on ground
proved abortive as they directed our reporter to
PPRO.
When P.M.NEWS contacted the police PRO, Mrs
Ngozi Braide, she confirmed that there was crisis
in the area and a team of policemen have been
posted there to maintain peace and order.
Residents who witnessed the incident said the
killing of the officers was unfortunate, adding that
the police should not have gone to the place at
that time of the night.
P.M.NEWS learnt from residents that the place
where the incident happened known is a jungle
where all sorts of vices thrive.
The police knew that it is a haven where for
criminality thrives such as prostitution, drug
dealing and other vices.
[Reported by Cyriacus Izuekwe]