There was pandemonium on Friday at Meiran Police Station in Lagos State as irate youths attacked policemen attached to the station.
The youths, mostly tricycle riders, attacked the officers over the alleged shooting of one Dele Oroja, the Unit Head of the tricycle riders at Iwe/Ile-Epo Meiran.
Oroja allegedly died on Friday morning after he was shot on September 6, 2012 by a policeman for refusing to part with a N50 bribe.
The youths took to the street after they received the sad news of Oroja’s death.
They would have burnt down the Meiran Police Station but for the timely intervention of riot policemen drafted to the station.
Residents also accused policemen attached to the station of extortion and incessant roadblocks despite the order of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, banning roadblocks across the country.
Narrating how Oroja was killed, an eyewitness, who requested anonymity stated: “On Wednesday, Oroja picked a soldier in mufti in his tricycle but when he got to Ile Iwe Junction, a policeman stopped him and demanded for N50 bribe but the soldier challenged the policeman and told Oroja not to pay the bribe.
“The policeman slapped the soldier, not knowing he was a soldier.
“Immediately this happened, the soldier called for reinforcements from his barracks at the Command Area Meiran and they came in droves and beat up the policeman.”
The eyewitness added that the policeman stopped Oroja again on Thursday and accused him of sending soldiers to beat him up, adding: “Oroja was with his brother on Thursday evening.
“They were going to buy animal feeds when the policeman accosted him and said he was the one who brought soldiers to fight him so that was how he shot Oroja.”
The source added that Oroja was rushed to the Araba Medical Centre but was confirmed dead on Friday morning.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umaru Manko, has called for calm over the incident, stating that the policeman involved in the shooting has been arrested.
In a press statement on Friday, Ngozi Braide, the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, identified the trigger happy policeman as Corporal Abbey Adekunle.
Braide’s statement reads: “On the 6th of September 2012, at about 2020hrs, one Corporal Abbey Adekunle attached to Meiran Division while on duty and clearing of obstruction in front of the Police Station allegedly shot one Dele Oroja ‘m’, a tri-cyclist, in a mysterious circumstance.
“The victim was immediately rushed to Araba Medical centre, Meiran, but unfortunately died over the night.
“The corpse has been deposited at the General Hospital Ikeja for post mortem examination, while the suspect is under arrest and currently being detained at the State CID Panti, Yaba.
“I am appealing to the members of the Meiran Community and Lagosians to embrace peace and remain calm as we have commenced investigation and justice will definitely prevail.”