Okada Riders Reportedly Kill Top Police Officer in Lagos, Details Emerge

Okada Riders Reportedly Kill Top Police Officer in Lagos, Details Emerge

  • Irate Okada riders tragically killed a Lagos State Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Agege
  • Trouble started after the Okada riders resisted the police's efforts to remove a truck involved in an accident, demanding that it be set ablaze
  • Five suspects have been arrested, and a manhunt is underway for others, with police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin condemning the unprovoked attack

A tragic incident occurred in the Agege area of Lagos on Saturday, October 19, as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) serving with the Lagos state police command was killed.

The police officer was killed in an attack by irate commercial motorcyclists, commonly known as Okada riders.

Senior police officer killed in Lagos
Okada riders kill top Lagos police officer Photo credit: @PoliceNG
Source: Twitter

Unprovoked attack by Okada riders

The officer, who has yet to be identified, led a team of policemen to the scene of an accident involving an Okada rider and a trailer at WEMCO Junction by Mobil Road in the Agege area.

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The police had received a distress call at around 1:40 a.m. to investigate the accident, Daily Trust reported.

Upon arrival, the police officers were met by a large group of Okada riders demanding that the trailer involved in the accident be set ablaze

According to the Lagos state police command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, the Okada rider had reportedly collided with the trailer, leading to his death.

Despite this, the Okada riders resisted the police team’s attempts to remove the truck, escalating the situation into violence, The Punch reported.

Hundeyin confirmed the ASP's death, stating:

"The team arrived to evacuate the truck, but the Okada riders launched an unprovoked attack.
One of our officers, a 46-year-old ASP, was hit on the head and tragically died on the spot. The truck driver managed to escape during the chaos."

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The police spokesperson condemned the violence, emphasizing that the attack was unwarranted as the officers were only performing their duties.

Police speak on ongoing arrest, manhunt

In response to the attack, five suspects have been arrested, and the police have launched a manhunt for others involved in the deadly incident.

Hundeyin stated:

"We are not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that justice is served."

Residents of Agege have expressed fear and anger over the growing lawlessness, with one witness describing the scene:

"It was pure chaos. The police were trying to do their job, but the riders were just too many. It’s heartbreaking to see a policeman lose his life like that."

Terrorists kill 2, kidnap APC chairman

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that tragedy struck Dan Auta village in Katsina state's Sabuwa local government area on Friday morning, October 18.

Suspected terrorists launched a violent attack around 2 am, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and the abduction of 13 others.

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The victims included a security operative from the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) and a resident who was shot while resisting abduction. Among those abducted was Alhaji Imamu, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ezra Ukanwa avatar

Ezra Ukanwa (Editor) Ezra Ukanwa is a Reuters-certified journalist with over 5 years of professional experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Anchor University, Lagos. Currently, he is the Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng, where he brings his expertise to provide incisive, impactful coverage of national events. Ezra was recognized as Best Campus Journalist at the Anchor University Communications Awards in 2019 and is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Contact him at: ezra.ukanwa@corp.legit.ng or +2349036989944