Protesters storm police station, kill Inspector, release kidnapping suspects
The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that an Inspector has been shot dead and two critically injured when some armed protesters launched attack at the Anti Kidnapping Unit Office of the command.
Penpushing reports that, the Command Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi in a statement on Monday said the armed protesters broke into the cell and liberated two of the kidnap cases suspects, before they were tactically and professionally repelled.
The police spokesman said the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has called for calm and professionalism from the protesters and police personnel respectively as the Endsars protests have been hijacked by some unscrupulous elements, who are fully armed, in Lagos State.
“Today, being 12th October, 2020, at about 1pm, some armed protesters laid siege on the Anti Kidnapping Unit Office of the command, broke into the cell and liberated two of the kidnap cases suspects, before they were tactically and professionally repelled”, he said.
The statement added that in the process, Inspr Ekei Joshua with AP No 175493, Inspr Peter Agabi with AP No 251138 and Insp Erinfolami Ayodeji with AP No 229241(now late) attached to the Anti Kidnapping Unit of Lagos State Command, located at Iyun Road, Surulere were shot and critically injured; adding that they have been rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
Penpushing further reports that,, Adejobi said in addition, the protesters fired and killed one Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, 55 years, a driver of one Toyota Sienna Bus, with registration number LSD 296 FX, who got stuck in the traffic caused by the blockage of the road by the violent protesters, in Surulere.
“It is pertinent to state that the attacked police inspectors and Mr Ikechukwu Ilohamauzu were hit and injured by pellets reasonably fired from pump actions/locally-made guns. The corpses of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary for autopsy”.
Penpushing reports that, he said the Commissioner has urged protesters to be peaceful and avoid violent attacks on police personnel or any other security agents, and also warned them not to harass innocent Lagosians by picketing them to forcefully join the protests; and should avoid blocking access routes or roads for other Nigerians who are as well entitled to their fundamental human rights
The statement also said the police boss appealed to parents and guardians to keep watch on their children and monitor their activities to avoid being mobilised and used for illegal activities in the state.
Meanwhile, four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, and the Commissioner has ordered the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, Lagos to carry out thorough investigation into the incidence for further police actions.
