From Premium Times Nigeria · Emmanuel Agbo · · 2m
Police detain officer after shooting leaves girl dead
Lagos police detain officer who shot dead a girl during a rival group clash.
In brief
Lagos police detain officer who shot dead a girl during a rival group clash. Lagos police detained an officer after he fatally shot a girl during a clash between Nosamu Boys and Alayabiagba Boys in Ajegunle. Originally reported by Premium Times Nigeria.
Police detain officer after shooting
Lagos State Police Command detained an assistant superintendent of police, Omotayo Olajide, after a bullet from his firearm killed a girl and injured another during a police operation in Ajegunle.
Incident occurred at Nosamu
The incident happened between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 November, in the Nosamu area of Ajegunle, where police responded to a clash between two rival groups.
Rival groups fighting over tolls
The groups, identified as Nosamu Boys and Alayabiagba Boys, were reportedly fighting over toll collection and armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
Police statement on Saturday
In a statement on Saturday, police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi said officers were deployed after receiving a distress call about the clash and that Mr Olajide discharged his firearm during the operation, hitting the two girls.
One girl died at LASUTH
Both victims were taken to Ajeromi General Hospital; one was later transferred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, where she died. Police identified her as Omole Taiwo.
Second girl stable condition
The second girl is receiving medical attention and is in stable condition, according to police.
Officer detained and disarmed
Mr Olajide has been disarmed and detained, while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation.
Police commissioner visits family
The Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, visited the deceased’s family to offer condolences and assured them the investigation would be thorough, stating no officer found culpable would be protected.
Police did not explain discharge
The police did not explain how the firearm was discharged or whether the officer deliberately fired during the confrontation.
Previous Ajegunle shooting
In April 2019, a police inspector, Dania Ojo, shot dead 20-year-old Ada Ifeanyi and injured Emmanuel Akomafuwa during a similar incident in Ajegunle.
Another fatal shooting in Lagos
In February, two passersby were killed during a police operation in Alagbado, Lagos, when officers were pursuing suspected internet fraudsters.
Investigation delayed
A report in March stated that the police had yet to publish the findings of the investigation, despite an earlier promise to do so.
The big picture
Lagos police detained an officer after he fatally shot a girl during a clash between Nosamu Boys and Alayabiagba Boys in Ajegunle.
