There was confusion in the Apapa area of Lagos State as an operative of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad allegedly shot dead a yet-to-be-identified trailer driver.
Our correspondent learnt that the incident happened around 3pm.
A source said the police team had raided a black spot in the area when there was a clash between the hoodlums and the policemen.
In the ensuing confusion, a policeman was alleged to have fired a shot, which hit the victim, killing him on the spot.
“The SARS officer came to raid the hoodlums smoking hemp in the Coconut-Trinity area. It happened around the loading bay. There was a problem between them and the police opened fire, which hit a trailer driver. The drivers in the place went on the rampage as the policemen took to their heels. The policemen around the Trinity area later came to restore sanity and calm the protesters,” the source added.
A clip of the incident, which was posted by a witness on the social media, showed the deceased, who wore a Nigerian jersey, being carried on plywood by some friends.
Tears and protest rent the air.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, said the state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, had ordered an investigation into the incident.
He noted that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Trinity Police Division had already finalised a report on the matter.He said, “There was a crisis in that area, which led to somebody dying. However, the circumstances that led to his death are still sketchy. But the CP has directed the DPO Trinity, who has finished some preliminary findings to hand over all materials relating to the incident to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for further investigation. The outcome will be made public.”