Traffic Law: Policeman shoots okada rider in Lagos

A policeman identified simply as Yemi on Tuesday in the Ilupeju area of Lagos State allegedly shot an okada rider, Adigun Atilola, while trying to enforce the state traffic law.

It was learnt that Atilola, who was riding with a passenger, was shot when he attempted to evade arrest at Teju Junction on Ilupeju bypass.

Eyewitnesses said Yemi was in company with five other policemen when he shot the okada rider at a close range.

It was gathered that Atilola’s passenger and some youths in the area who were angered by the incident went on the rampage in the area.

The protesters set up bonfires at the scene on Teju Junction and Coker Road Junction and prevented free flow of traffic for hours.

When our correspondent visited the scene, the protesters were seen attacking and beating up people suspected to be policemen who were in mufti.

However, attempts by the protesters to mobilise and burn down the Ilupeju Police Station was thwarted as a combined team of policemen from the Rapid Response Squad, OPS Attack, Mosafejo and Alausa Division who came in seven vans  fired tear gas into the air and dispersed them.

An eyewitness, Hammed Adelaja, said Atilola was shot at the right part of the lower abdomen, adding that the bullet pierced through him to the other side.

He said, “The incident happened at about 10:30am and I was right there in my office watching them. As soon as he was flagged down, the passenger he was carrying came down but while trying to manoeuvre and zoom off, a policeman grabbed him from behind and shot him at a close range.

“It was such a gory scene as he lost so much blood. The policeman who shot him and his colleagues fled the scene as soon as the incident happened.”

Another eyewitness, Happy Utok-Udoh, said  Atilola was taken to a nearby private hospital by concerned residents from where he was referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

He berated the police for being unnecessarily overzealous while attempting to enforce the traffic law.

“Nobody is saying they shouldn’t enforce the law but they should do so with all sense of civility and decorum. The approach was so wrong. Something should be done to contain their excesses,” he said.

When our correspondent visited Surgical Emergency of LASUTH, Atilola was said to have been taken to the theatre for surgical operation.

Meanwhile, Atilola’s elder sister, Rukayat Dada, who rushed to the scene of the incident wondered how an unarmed citizen would be shot without a just cause.

She said, “He is a trained motorcycle technician who was forced into commercial motorcycle business as a result of unemployment. His first child is just barely six weeks old.

“My brother should not be allowed to die as a result of police lawlessness. He is not an armed robber so why should they shoot him? I wonder why our law enforcement officers are so wicked.”