Anger as policeman shoots passer bye *Two others held for assaulting LASTMA

Amadin

A policeman narrowly escaped being lynched alive by angry mob at the Iyano-Iba area of Lagos on Wednesday after he shot a passer bye, just as two other policemen assaulted officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), in another area of the metropolis.

The policeman, attached to the Ojo Police Station, rank and name yet unknown, was said to have been trying to shoot at the tyres of suspected criminal, who refused to stop after he was flagged down, when the bullet hit a passer-bye.

Immediately the victim, fell down, bleeding and screaming, crowd gathered and attempted to attack the policeman.

He allegedly threatened those who aimed to attack with his rifle, while tension grew and the crowd multiplied.

Tension and danger were said to have been averted by the quick intervention of the Area E Commander, Mr. Frank Mba, who dashed to the area with a team of policemen after he got a radio message about the shooting of the civilian.

Mba was said to have addressed the motley crowd and ordered that the shooter be arrested and detained.

Reacting to the incident, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, warned policemen in the Command to uphold the highest standards of their professional calling. According to him, the Command would work to uphold the Force leadership position on zero tolerance for indiscipline, abuse of Human Rights and incivility to members of the public. He said that he wouldn’t hesitate to bring erring policemen to book.

Confirming the incident, Lagos State Police Spokesperson, Patrician Amadin, said that the shooting occurred on Wednesday. She also confirmed the arrest of two policemen for complicity in the assault of LASTMA officials while on their legitimate duty.

Explaining further, Amadin said: “Trouble started when a Policeman from Ojo Division, who was said to be in pursuit of a suspected felon, in an attempt to demobilize the vehicle, fired at the tyre of the fleeing car. Unfortunately, the bullet brushed through the arm of a passer-by, causing instant tension and anger among some onlookers. An attempt by miscreants to take advantage of the situation to foment trouble was averted, as the police leadership employed a combination of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Community Policing tactics to calm frayed nerves. The Police NCO has since been arrested and detained, pending the commencement of disciplinary procedures against him, while the injured citizen who was rushed to the hospital by the Police is receiving treatment.”