Angry commercial motorcyclists known as Okada riders have killed an unidentified policeman and injured a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in a violent protest over ban on theri operations in Lagos.
The DPO was said to have led a police team to enforce a ban on commercial motorcycle operations in Cele-Ijesha area of Lagos State when the incident happened on Wednesday.
It was gathered that the rampaging Okada riders attacked the police team around 11.00am on Wednesday as they accosted a motorcyclist plying the Mile 2-Cele axis and was about to arrest him.
An eye witness account, according to the PUNCH report, revealed that the motorcyclist resisted an attempt to seize his motorcycle while other motorcyclists, who witnessed the incident joined to assist him.
The situation was said to have degenerated to a violent clash between the motorcyclists and the police team.
Preferring not to be named, the eye witness said: “The policemen were trying to arrest one of the motorcycle riders shuttling the Cele-Ijesha and Mile 2 areas. It was while the motorcyclist was resisting arrest that other motorcyclists intervened and demanded the release of their colleague’s motorcycle.
“When the policemen refused and tried to drive the motorcyclists away, they refused to back down and stopped the policemen from leaving the spot. Then, one of the policemen tried to scare them away with his gun but they overpowered him and killed him.
“The policemen hurriedly left the scene after realising that their colleague had been killed. Immediately the policeman was killed, his colleagues who ran away called for reinforcement and by the time they returned, the motorcyclists had fled. They were also seen brandishing different weapons while leaving the scene of the clash.”
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said two suspects had been arrested and 41 motorcycles impounded by the police over the incident.
Speaking with newsmen, he said: “While enforcing the existing ban on the use of motorcycles in parts of Lagos State, policemen attached to the Isolo Division came under attack from motorcycle riders at Cele Bus-Stop, resulting in the death of an Inspector and serious injury of the Divisional Police Officer.
“Two suspects have been arrested while 41 motorcycles were impounded. The Lagos State Police Command will not be deterred from carrying out its mandate of enforcing duly established laws.
“Also, people should stop peddling fake news as no gun was snatched during the attack. Citizens are urged to remain law-abiding, as riders and passengers alike arrested on prohibited routes will face the law. Above all, any form of attack on policemen will no longer be tolerated.”