A policeman attached to Ago Police Division, Okota, Lagos, allegedly shot two men on Wednesday.
It was learnt that the policemen were arresting commercial motorcycle riders plying restricted routes when the two men attempted to intervene.
Our correspondent learnt that the victims, Adebisi Adewole and Gbenga Abiodun, are employees of Ekayus Limited, dealers in iron rod and building materials.
According to eyewitness accounts, the victims were shot at GKS Bus Stop, Ago Palace Road, Okota.
The victims were said to have been shot for persuading the policemen at a checkpoint in front of their shop, not to arrest a commercial motorcyclist.
An eyewitness, who craved anonymity, said, “The policemen were chasing a motorcycle operator in a bid to arrest him but while attempting to escape, he (okada rider) rode into a ditch.
“Upon noticing that the policemen were bent on arresting him, the victims who had closed for the day appealed to the policemen to let him go since he (the motorcyclist) had already sustained injuries from his fall.
“The appeal infuriated one of the policemen who immediately opened fire and the bullets hit the victims.”
The manager of the company, who was identified simply as Gbenga, confirmed the incident. He said they had made peace with the police over the matter.
He said, “The police have apologised to us. They said the shooting was an error as they did not intend to shoot my colleagues. They said it was an accidental discharge that wasn’t directly aimed at the victims.
“ So, we have listened to their plea and opted to forgive them. We have let go of the issue.”
Efforts to confirm the incident from the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, proved abortive, as she neither picked phone calls nor replied a text message sent to her phone.
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