The police sergeant, who shot and
killed a tanker driver on Wednesday for parking in front of Diamond bank was rushed to surgery as he battles to stay alive after being stabbed
by irate mob.
This was disclosed by the Lagos Police
Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, while speaking with journalists at command
headquarters, Ikeja.
Owoseni, who condemned the killing
of the truck driver at Apapa, by the sergeant, disowned him.
The Sergeant attached to the Police
Mobile Force (PMF) 23, had shot dead a driver, who allegedly stabbed him for
insisting that his truck be removed from the bank's entrance.
Angered by the driver's death, his
colleagues went on the rampage, setting two financial institutions, Sterling
and Diamond banks on fire. They also allegedly vandalized property and
vehicles.
According to Owoseni, the sergeant acted
of his own accord and had been arrested. He said that despite the fact that the
sergeant was stabbed; the gun given to him was not to be used at will.
Owoseni said: "It was an
unfortunate incident. Like we said before, the policeman in question has been
taken into custody and currently being guarded in the hospital because he was
stabbed. As of this morning, he was taken to the theatre for surgery. That
notwithstanding, the provisions of extant regulations of the police would be
applied in dealing with the situation. Without justifying their actions, I
think the reaction from the drivers was as a result of bottled up anger. Some
of them left their families to load at the port with expectation to return
within two days, only to spend one week there.
"But that does not mean they
should take laws into their hands. What they did was brazen lawlessness. We
appeal to the public that when things happen like that, the rule of law should
be allowed to take its course.
"The police are at the
forefront of cleansing institutional rot and we would continue to do that. No
policeman is given a gun to shoot at will. That officer is not one of us. He
acted on his capacity as an individual not for the police. The Inspector
General of Police (IGP) has been very
clear on this. He abhors lawlessness and has zero tolerance for cops who do not
keep to the tenets of standard policing. I apologise to the public for the act
of misconduct exhibited by that policeman. We would continue to ensure training
and retraining of our personnel so that they discharge their responsibilities
within the ambit of the law."
On the extent of damage done to the
banks, Owoseni said it would be hasty to give statistics, since the banks were
still taking stocks.
He noted that the banks were in the
position to say what they lost, “but from my assessment when I visited the
place, no staff of the banks was hurt. They quickly evacuated. I can tell you
that three vehicles were vandalised, and the banks were partially burnt."
The police chief said persons
arrested were being screened so that those innocent would not be punished
unjustly.
He said: "There were some
people with legitimate businesses there. Some of them are truck or motor boys
that sleep in the park. But there are those who had no business there and only
came to take advantage of the situation.
"They are hoodlums who came to
infiltrate the area and get engaged in violence or looting. Those ones would be
dealt with. We are still taking stocks and so, we cannot tell you right now,
those who have been screened.
"In mob actions like that,
there is every possibility that innocent people would be arrested. We do not
want a situation were innocent people would be punished unjustifiably."
The Police Public Relations Officer
(PPRO), ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole said that the police sergeant and 18 suspected
hoodlums were arrested on Wednesday.
Famous-Cole said that the command
received a distress call from the Chief Security Officer, CSO of a new
generation bank located in the area.
“The caller said hoodlums were
trying to take laws into their hands by setting the bank ablaze following the
shooting of a tank driver by a policeman, attached to the bank after an
altercation.” he said.
Famous-Cole said operatives of the
command including the Area Commander Apapa, the Rapid Response Squad, RRS and
other security agents quickly rushed to the scene to take charge of the
situation.
He said if not for the quick
intervention of the Police, the hoodlums would have wreaked more havoc as the
destroyed private properties and valuables.
He explained that a mob had gathered
in front of the bank demanding the trigger-happy policeman be released to
them.
But the bank refused, leading to the
arson and further attack another bank branch, located on Wharf Road.
The Assistant Superintendent of
Police said the fire at the banks was put out by the police and other security
agencies as the tanker driver, identified as Azeez was rushed immediately to
the hospital for treatment.
He said he was confirmed dead upon
arrival at the hospital.
“Contrary to reports making rounds
in the news, only one tanker driver was shot.” Famous-Cole reiterated.
The policeman has been arrested and
would be charged to court immediately, the police mouth-piece said.
He noted that 18 suspected hoodlums
were also arrested and investigations on-going.
“The Lagos state police
command would like to address the members of the public about the rate of
impunity and jungle justice in the state.
“We are no longer going to tolerate
the act of lawlessness and impunity by members of the public.” the statement
read.
He said normalcy had since been
restored to the area.
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