A policeman, Stephen James, on Saturday shot dead three male customers at a hotel in the Ketu area of Lagos State. Among the deceased were twin brothers identified as Taiwo and Kehinde Oyesunle, who were the only children of their parents, and their friend known simply as Jeje.


The tragic incident; which happened outside the premises of Paulson Hotel on Anibaba Street around 4:20pm, threw the entire neighbourhood and its environs into chaos with passers-by and residents scampering in different directions.

According to eyewitnesses, trouble started when the police sergeant with Force number 217884, threatened to shoot customers if they failed to buy him an alcoholic drink. The policeman, who was said to be a habitual smoker of marijuana, however, felt offended after the victims – Taiwo, Kehinde and Jeje – cautioned him to comport himself as an adult and a responsible policeman.

The eyewitnesses said the policeman ambushed and killed the three young men, who were in their early 30s, as they stepped outside the hotel premises where they had gone to celebrate Jeje’s birthday.

When the gravity of his act dawned on him, the policeman reportedly shot himself in the chest.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joe Offor, confirmed the killings.

Punch