Why policemen tried to kill me-Cyclist

The cyclist, Joseph, who reacted after watching a policeman shot and killed a mother of two, Mrs. Kudirat Adebayo, at the Mushin area of Lagos State, has revealed how the shooter and his colleagues turned their guns on him.

According to him, the policemen tried to kill him because he witnessed the shooting and subsequent death of Adebayo, who was a widow. He also dared to tell the policemen that they have killed the 52-year-old woman.

A stray bullet from the smoking gun of a policeman, called Prince, attached to Olosan Police Station, on Tuesday, hit Adebayo on the head, where she was preparing to fry bean cakes. She died instantly at the spot.

Eye witnesses said that Prince and his colleagues were chasing after a suspected fraudster, who didn’t want to share his criminal loots with them. Determined to stop the boy, Prince opened fire. His bullet got Adebayo.

Joseph, who witnessed the shooting, couldn’t keep quite. He told the policemen that they had killed Adebayo. One of the policemen, Charles shot him point blank. The bullet, however, got him on the leg.

Joseph explained that he had already spent N50, 000 treating the gunshot wound. He said that he required another N50, 000 to purchase prescribed drugs.

Elder brother of Adebayo, Mr. Akinsanya Sikiru, said the widow left behind two children, Ayokun(17) and Abayo( 28). These kids are still schooling. The late Adebayo happened to be their breadwinner.

Sikiru urged the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris and Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, to do everything to probe the murder of Adebayo. He also wants the policemen, who by their action rendered the two kids orphans, to take over their upkeep.

The killing of Adebayo, threw the entire Mushin community into pandemonium, triggering a protest to Olosan Police Station where the killer police serves.

It was learnt that many residents were fired canisters of tear gas by policemen. Many of the protesters sustained injuries.

Another, cyclist said: “We do not want the police from that division to keep coming here; why should someone with gun be harassing innocent passersby? They call everyone yahoo boy. They used to harass people returning from work. If they discover you with laptop or international passport, you have become a fraudster for them. It’s either you part with N5, 000 or get arrested. If you dared to challenge them, you may be shot.”

Stating his own account of what he witnessed, this cyclist said the police stopped a young man, who was returning from seeing his pastor. They seized his international passport and labeled him a yahoo boy. The guy snatched his passport and bolted, which led the policemen to open fire at his fleeing back. One of the bullets got Adebayo.