One of the policemen killed by suspected oil vandals on Monday Ishawo
Road, Ikorodu, Lagos State, was said to have got married two months ago
while his wife is expecting their first child.
The policeman, identified as Obioma, attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikorodu branch, was said to be a relation of the former state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kenneth Nwosu.
The late Obioma was among the four policemen killed after suspected oil vandals opened fire on them. The vandals, who spoke in Ijaw language, took the bodies of the slain policemen.
They also stole their rifles and police van. Three of the policemen were from Owutu Police Station. One of them was an inspector and two sergeants. The fourth body was that of Obioma, from SARS, Ikorodu. A corporal and a sergeant are presently in hospital.
A police source, attached to the Owutu Police Station, revealed fresh facts about the deadly shootings that took four police lives and left two policemen battling to stay alive at the Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Mushin.
The source said that the whole drama started after some SARS men, Ikorodu branch, embarked on an illegal operation. They left their station and without telling their superior officer, went to Ishawo, to arrest pipeline vandals. The situation went awry after one of the vandals, who were arrested with trucks filled with stolen fuel, refused to pay the N5 million the SARS allegedly demanded. It was gathered that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, had ordered detention of seven men who survived the bloodbath.
The mood at SARS, Ikeja and Ikorodu was solemn as the policemen brainstorm on who to pick that would go and break the news of Obioma’s death to his new bride. Narrating the genesis of the whole shooting, the police source said: “SARS men went to Owutu on illegal operation.
They intercepted one of the vandals driving a tanker filled with fuel. They arrested him and demanded for N5 million, but he said he did not have such an amount of money. They decided to take him to their station. “They were, however, flagged down by policemen from Owutu Police Station.
The SARS men introduced themselves, explaining that they had impounded the tanker and the driver. The Owutu policemen, however, demanded a piece of the action. This led to a heated argument between the two sets of policemen. They were still arguing when the tanker driver made a call, speaking in Ijaw.”
It was gathered that the policemen thought the driver was calling his friends to come with some amount of money. Less than an hour later, a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) was sighted, driving towards the scene. The driver told the policemen that the occupants of the Jeep were coming with money.
The excited policemen relaxed and lowered their guards. As soon as the vehicle drew nearer, the occupants opened fire on the policemen. Three died on the spot, two were left writhing in pain while others scampered in different directions. The vandals then stormed Owutu Police Station and killed an inspector. This was not the first time. On January 26, vandals attacked Owutu Police Station, and killed two policemen and a motorcyclist. They also injured several people. The vandals also stole four AK47 rifles.
Aside from the two policemen who were killed on the fateful day around 11pm, two members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were also killed. The bodies of the NSCDC men and police were taken away. Till date, nobody knows where the bodies are.
In May, four policemen attached to the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit were shot dead during a clash with vandals at Obadore area of Igando on the outskirts of Lagos metropolis. The bodies of the four policemen were dragged into the creek by the vandals, till date, their bodies had not been recovered. In the Igando attack, the policemen, who were also on illegal duty, demanded N5 million bribe from a female vandal. She, however, refused to pay. She made a call and soon heavy shootings rocked the area.
The policeman, identified as Obioma, attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikorodu branch, was said to be a relation of the former state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kenneth Nwosu.
The late Obioma was among the four policemen killed after suspected oil vandals opened fire on them. The vandals, who spoke in Ijaw language, took the bodies of the slain policemen.
They also stole their rifles and police van. Three of the policemen were from Owutu Police Station. One of them was an inspector and two sergeants. The fourth body was that of Obioma, from SARS, Ikorodu. A corporal and a sergeant are presently in hospital.
A police source, attached to the Owutu Police Station, revealed fresh facts about the deadly shootings that took four police lives and left two policemen battling to stay alive at the Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Mushin.
The source said that the whole drama started after some SARS men, Ikorodu branch, embarked on an illegal operation. They left their station and without telling their superior officer, went to Ishawo, to arrest pipeline vandals. The situation went awry after one of the vandals, who were arrested with trucks filled with stolen fuel, refused to pay the N5 million the SARS allegedly demanded. It was gathered that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, had ordered detention of seven men who survived the bloodbath.
The mood at SARS, Ikeja and Ikorodu was solemn as the policemen brainstorm on who to pick that would go and break the news of Obioma’s death to his new bride. Narrating the genesis of the whole shooting, the police source said: “SARS men went to Owutu on illegal operation.
They intercepted one of the vandals driving a tanker filled with fuel. They arrested him and demanded for N5 million, but he said he did not have such an amount of money. They decided to take him to their station. “They were, however, flagged down by policemen from Owutu Police Station.
The SARS men introduced themselves, explaining that they had impounded the tanker and the driver. The Owutu policemen, however, demanded a piece of the action. This led to a heated argument between the two sets of policemen. They were still arguing when the tanker driver made a call, speaking in Ijaw.”
It was gathered that the policemen thought the driver was calling his friends to come with some amount of money. Less than an hour later, a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) was sighted, driving towards the scene. The driver told the policemen that the occupants of the Jeep were coming with money.
The excited policemen relaxed and lowered their guards. As soon as the vehicle drew nearer, the occupants opened fire on the policemen. Three died on the spot, two were left writhing in pain while others scampered in different directions. The vandals then stormed Owutu Police Station and killed an inspector. This was not the first time. On January 26, vandals attacked Owutu Police Station, and killed two policemen and a motorcyclist. They also injured several people. The vandals also stole four AK47 rifles.
Aside from the two policemen who were killed on the fateful day around 11pm, two members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were also killed. The bodies of the NSCDC men and police were taken away. Till date, nobody knows where the bodies are.
In May, four policemen attached to the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit were shot dead during a clash with vandals at Obadore area of Igando on the outskirts of Lagos metropolis. The bodies of the four policemen were dragged into the creek by the vandals, till date, their bodies had not been recovered. In the Igando attack, the policemen, who were also on illegal duty, demanded N5 million bribe from a female vandal. She, however, refused to pay. She made a call and soon heavy shootings rocked the area.
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