CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
The mobile policeman who allegedly shot a young man at Erico Belisima Hotel in Egbeda, Lagos said he was provoked by the deceased which forced him to shoot him to death, a source told P.M.EXPRESS.
The police officer, whose identity was yet to be disclosed and already detained at the Lagos State Police Command’s headquarters in Ikeja, allegedly killed the youth early Thursday morning, at the hotel believed to belong to a serving senior police officer.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the deceased, simply known as Niyi and his gangs, were said to have gone to the hotel to look for a guest lodged there and said to be owing him over N5 million.
They were said to have laid a siege outside the hotel gate apparently to catch the guy on his way out.
Their presence in that sizable number had attracted one of the staff of the hotel who came to ask why they were standing outside the hotel gate.
Rather than explain their mission to the inquisitive staff, they descended on him and beat him.
It was his cry for help that attracted the mobile policemen attached to the hotel.
The policemen then demanded to know why they had to assault the hotel staff and the altercation snowballed into a hot argument which angered the detained policeman who shot Niyi on his leg.
The petrified crowd, who were shocked that a policeman could use firearm over mere argument, ran for their lives in different directions including already injured Niyi.
Not satisfied, the policeman allegedly chased the injured Niyi and shot him again at a close range, this time on his head killing him instantly.
Niyi’s death, whose wife was recently delivered of a baby and who lives in the neighbourhood, soon spread like wildfire and the youths in their hundreds stormed the hotel and destroyed the structure while about five cars parked inside and outside the premises, belonging to the hotel’s guests, were vandalized.
The youth were about to set the hotel ablaze, but the quick response of the men of the State Task Force, the Rapid Response Squad and other units of the Police, prevented them.
When our Correspondent visited the Olowologbon Street where the hotel is located, there were heavy presence of Policemen who cordoned off the street.
The same was the case on Sobo Street, the adjoining street.
As at the time of filing this report the vandalised cars and some of those who were arrested, have been moved to Shasha Police Station.
When contacted, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Famous Cole said investigation on the matter is still on going.