Officials of the Nigerian Police Force, Lagos State Command are currently on the trail to apprehend one of their colleagues, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, identified only as Mohammed, who allegedly gunned down a tricycle driver, Akeem Aranse, 31, during an argument in the Shasha, Akowonjo area of the state.
Mohammed is said to be attached to the Disaster Management Unit of the Department of Operations, Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja while the victim was resident at Nusiratu Street, in the Akowonjo area.
The police official allegedly fled his apartment on Unity Close, Egbeda, shortly after the incident.
Mohammed had boarded a commercial motorcycle popularly known as okada which was hit by the tricyle operator on Kareem Laka Street in the Egbeda area.
An argument ensued which further escalated into a serious fight during which the police officer killed the tricycle driver.
Eyewitnesses explained that some passersby had tried to settle the skirmish but the police officer remained adamant.
It was learnt that the officer brought out his pistol and shot the tricycle driver on the chest which led to his instant death.
An elder brother to the deceased identified as Sulaimon, said Aranse was planning to visit his wife and only child in Ibadan, Oyo State, before the police official cut his life short.
He said, “We had been living together in this house since he was a boy. We both came from our hometown in the Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State to work in Lagos.
“He used to visit his family in Ibadan every three weeks. He was planning to go again this weekend when the tragic incident occurred.
“I was at a friend’s place when I was called about the incident. It was very shocking. Akeem did not have a record of street fighting or violence. He was said to have apologised to the police officer, who was not in uniform, but the man still shot him. The police have taken his corpse to a morgue in Yaba.
“The extended family members would be expecting him in Ibadan, but we have told his wife about the incident.”
Police officials from the Shashs division were said to have repeatedly gone to the fleeing ASP’s house, but all efforts have proved abortive.
The Chairman, Tricycle Drivers’ Association in Shasha Akowonjo, Mr. Isiaka Yekini, told Punch that the union would work with the police at the State Criminal Investigation Department to get the suspect.
He said, “We have been invited by the SCID to come on Monday (today) for questioning.
“When the incident happened, one of our members trailed the ASP to his apartment on Unity Close. He has, however, fled the house.
“It was at about 6.30pm on that day that I received a phone call that one of our members had been shot dead. It was very shocking.”
Confirming the incident, the state poluce spokesperson, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, said the force has intensified efforts to nab the fleeing officer.
He said, “We have identified the policeman, but he has been on the run. We are making efforts to arrest him.
“His action is alien to the police culture. It is not in line with the vision and mission of the Lagos State Police Command.”
