A policeman attached to the Ketu Police Division, Lagos
State has allegedly shot an 18-year-old admission seeker, Samuel Omojuwa, who
is in a critical condition at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi.
Samuel’s elder brother, David, a businessman, was also
attacked with a cutlass by another member of the three-man police team on
Omojuwa Street on Sunday. One of the
policemen was identified simply as Inspector Gboyega.
However, the police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, denied that
the policemen shot Samuel and attacked David with a cutlass, saying the police
were not farmers.
The Punch gathered
that the policemen had attempted to arrest a commercial motorcycle rider for
allegedly breaking a traffic rule. The rider, whose motorcycle was reportedly
confiscated, was said to have struggled with the officers.
The policemen allegedly hit the motorcyclist with a cutlass,
which drew the ire of his colleagues at the junction, who later intervened.
The incident was said to have created confusion in the area.
It was learnt that David, the son of a community leader,
reportedly approached the policemen.
The efforts by residents to rescue Samuel and take him to a
hospital were resisted by the policemen who insisted on taking him to the
station.
He was allegedly dragged from the spot to a waiting police
van and thrown into the back of the vehicle.
A member of the victim’s family, Emmanuel, said the family
and some other residents went to the station to demand an explanation for the
action.
"But the policemen at Ketu division said it was not their
division that carried out the operation. When we continued our protest because
we saw the operational vehicle they brought in the station, they later brought
him out of the cell.
"He was then taken to the Accident and Emergency Centre at
the tollgate area in Ojota, where he was given first aid," he added.
It was learnt that the victim was transferred to the NOHI on
Monday where he was placed on admission.
The police were alleged to have abandoned him despite
promising to foot the hospital bill.
"They didn’t release the police report on time. They also
didn’t pay the hospital bill. The Ketu Divisional Police Officer told us all
kinds of lies, saying it was a minor injury and within six days he would walk;
whereas the bullet broke the boy’s bones," Emmanuel added.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Badmos, said, "The
report from the division was that some hoodlums went on the rampage around
Ilele Street, Kosofe, after which two of them, Yusuf Aliu and Yusuf
Mojeed, were arrested for being in possession of items suspected to be hemp by
operatives of the division. The policemen were attacked. It is not true that
the policemen use a cutlass. How can they use a cutlass when they are not
farmers?"
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