Taiwo Atilola, mother of the 27-year-old
commercial motorcycle rider, Adigun, who was allegedly shot by a policeman in
Lagos on Tuesday said Adigun’s brother, Sikiru, was also arrested after the
incident.
She therefore appealed to the Lagos State Police
Command to release her son so as to lessen her trauma.
Taiwo said, “We have been to the police station,
but they have refused to grant his release. I was left in the dark as regards
his arrest until last night (Tuesday) because they didn’t want me to fall into
a coma. He would have been the one doing the running around now that his
brother is down.
“He must have been mistaken for one of the
protesters who went on the rampage. The police succeeded in injuring my son who
is the one solely taking care of me. They should not add to my sorrow, they
should please release him so that I won’t develop sudden hypertension.”
It was learnt that Sikiru, who is also an okada
rider, was arrested at the scene of the incident on Tuesday when he rushed
to see his shot brother.
Speaking to PUNCH Metro on Wednesday,
Taiwo said appeals by her and other relations for Sikiru’s release had fallen
on deaf ears.
Adigun, who was said to have attempted to evade
arrest, was allegedly shot by a policeman identified simply as Yemi while
trying to enforce the Lagos State traffic law on Ilupeju bypass.
Our correspondent who visited the Intensive Care
Unit of the Lagos State Teaching Hospital on Wednesday, learnt that the okada
rider was receiving post-surgery treatment and would not be allowed to see
visitors.
However, a source at the hospital told our
correspondent that Adigun underwent a successful surgical operation, adding
that he was still under medical observation.
“You can’t be allowed to speak with him.
The doctors are presently attending to him and he is under close medical
observation,” she said.
Meanwhile, Adigun’s wife, Tawa, said her husband
could only speak in hush tones.
“I fear for the health of my husband. I met
him in a very pathetic state. When I was opportune to see him in the early
hours of today (Wednesday), he only managed to speak to me when he asked for
the welfare of our six-week old child. He said ‘how is my baby doing?’” she
said.
However, Tawa, accused the police of abandoning
her husband.
She added that medical officers at the hospital
had asked her to look for how to get blood donation for him since the policemen
who hitherto stood to foot the bills were not forthcoming.
She said, “The senior police officers who were
with us last night promised us heaven and earth as regards his medical care
before they left. Surprisingly, I have not set my eyes on any of them as I
speak to you. Is it that the police were only showing eye service to us when
they all wore sombre looks yesterday?
“I and other relations have started running
helter skelter to get blood so that we can at least save his life. I know
God will surely judge them according to their deeds.”
Adigun’s friend, Rotimi Adejare, urged the police
not to sweep the matter under the carpet, adding that the trigger-happy cop
should be charged for attempted murder.
However, the Public Relations Officer of the
Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, said she was not aware of Sikiru’s
arrest.
She said, “I have not been briefed on that and I
don’t have such information on his arrest. Meanwhile, it is not true that the
police have abandoned the okada rider. In fact, I think the Area
Commander slept in that police station overnight.
“The policeman who was accused of shooting the okada
rider also sustained injuries in the scuffle that ensued and he is also
responding to treatment in hospital. The Commissioner of Police is concerned
about the incident and he has ordered an investigation into the incident.”
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