The police in Lagos State has detained an Inspector, Smart Osadolor, for allegedly killing a youth, Banji Lawunmi, in Bariga area of the state last week.
Osadolor is in the confines of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba where Homicide Detectives are quizzing him over his role in the killing of Lawunmi.
The police is also investigating three other persons alleged to be linked to the killing.
Lawunmi died after Osadolor Smart allegedly shot him during a fracas between two rival gangs at Bariga over the control of a building construction site.
Lawunmi is said to belong to one of the notorious gangs that had terrorised residents through the collection of illegal fees on newly constructed buildings and other petty businesses in Bariga.
The fracas that led to his killing, according to residents, was over the sharing of N250,000 a landlord allegedly paid to the gangs as “ground” money.
The “ground” money or what is popularly known as owo ile in the Yoruba language, is an illegal fee collected by jobless youth from owners of newly constructed buildings in Lagos State.
Eyewitnesses stated that Osadolor, who is attached to the Bariga Police Station, was invited with other policemen to the scene of the fracas but the gang members pounced on him and and inflicted severe injuries on him.
The gang members were also said to have attempted to seize the policeman’s gun.
In the ensuring struggle, the gun was reported to have discharged the bullet that hit Lawunmi and killed him.
According to residents, who requested anonymity, the deceased has been on the wanted list of the police for alleged robbery and other offences.
A resident told The Eagle Online: “Sometimes between August and November last year, Banji and some boys robbed some marketing staff of Ozone sachet water.
“He escaped arrest and some of his boys who were arrested were taken to court but Banji was declared wanted.
“Inspector Smart Osadolor has been a thorn in the flesh of the hoodlums and criminals in Bariga.
“He is the only policeman in Bariga that has the gut to chase and arrest the hoodlums and thieves and they hate him for that.”
It was gathered that other gang members on Tuesday last week went into a wild jubilation following the detention of Osadolor.
The resident said the gang is led by Rasaki Oseni, popularly known as Elewure.
The gang has as members Afilio, Kunle Atunrase and a host of other boys in the circle of one Ibrahim Small Jpron.
The source added: “You cannot believe that these criminals threw a wild party when they heard that Inspector Smart has been detained.
“On the same day at the Tabade Chemist area, the gang started stealing from people because they know that Inspector Smart was not there to arrest them.
“The people are very concerned as they know the boys will come back to terrorise them because a certain Oba (king) is sponsoring them and policemen are afraid of them.”
It was further gathered that the remains of Lawunmi has since been buried without police conducting an autopsy.
The source added: “The family members have buried him despite the police warning that autopsy has to be done.
“So this means that the police cannot carry out a thorough investigation into his death.”
Trending
- Queues: NNPC says cause of tightness in fuel supply resolved
- LG polls: Oyo declares Friday half working day
- Ondo 2024: Ajayi emerges PDP governorship candidate
- ‘Dey play,’ Nigerians mock prophet who claims world ends today
- Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Demolition for first 3km begins Saturday
- Court subpoenas Lagos prison controller over disobedience to order
- Ondo poll: You’ll be successful tomorrow, Ganduje tells Jimoh Ibrahim, others
- Court sets aside arrest warrant against Fubara’s Chief of Staff