The was palpable tension on Wednesday in the Okota axis of Lagos State over rumours that a commercial motorcycle operator was shot dead by the Police on Ago Palace way.
The news which went viral did not just create controversy but left most citizens wondering why security personnel will cut short the life he is paid to protect.
On social media and on other traditional channels of mass communication, the news had lots of traction and condemnation.
According to an online video, it was alleged that the victim was chased into a moving vehicle by the police. Consequently, there was a public outcry over the death, linking it to the wave of extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the Police.
However, in a swift reaction, the Lagos State Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu has debunked the rumours debunked the claim, insisting that the motorcycle operator was killed by a hit-and-run motorist and not by the police.
The CP was represented in a statement issued by Police public relations officer, DSP Bala Elkana.
The statement reads: “The attention of Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media in respect of an Okada rider said to have been chased to his death by a police officer.
“The allegation is false and a complete misrepresentation of the facts. The fact is that on May 8, at about 6.05am the police at Ago Okota Police Station heard a loud sound few meters away from the station and rushed out to ascertain what was going on.
“They found a motorcyclist lying in a pool of blood with his motorcycle on the ground. The victim was taken to the hospital but eventually died. On inquiries from witnesses around the scene, it was gathered that the motorcyclist was involved in a fatal accident with a vehicle along Ago Palace Way.
An eye witness, Mr. Adedayo Benson, also corroborated the statement from the Police. He said that: “I was standing in front of century hotel and saw the okada man, who was riding at a high speed, ran into a road bump/speed breaker and suddenly applied his break but was hit by a Toyota Camry car whose driver was driving behind. That the driver of the Camry ran before the arrival of the Police. Investigation into the accident is ongoing to track and apprehend the driver of the Camry vehicle with a view to bringing him to justice”.
