Oko-Oba Residents Debunk Right Group’s Allegations Of Illegal Detention By DPO

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The residents of Oko-Oba in Lagos have debunked the allegations by one Civil Rights group, Save Lagos Group (SLG) against the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Kingsley Anyanwu, describing their claims as very irresponsible, false and calculated campaign to tarnish the image of the DPO and indeed the Nigerian Police.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Police actually detained two suspects namely Ayodele Olagoke and Ayoololuwa Bamise, who willfully hit a female Inspector, Mrs. Joy, who was performing her official duty at Fagba Junction during the current lockdown over Coronavirus in the area.

According to the report, the suspects willfully hit her, she fell into coma and they ran away with their Honda Car with registration number AKD 79 BF belonging to one Mr. Tella. However, through the intervention of the neighborhood watch officers and Police officers, who pursued the suspects and eventually arrested them at Iju area Lagos, they were detained at the Station while the victim, Inspector Joy, was in coma and was rushed to the hospital where the doctors are battling to save her life.

Speaking on what transpired on 31st March, 2020, the day the incident happened, a resident, Tony Benson, who witnessed what happened, said that the female Inspector was performing her lawful duty when the suspects deliberately hit the woman. She fell down and they escaped. He narrated that the woman was unconscious and was rushed to the hospital while another team of officers on duty pursued them, eventually apprehended and detained them.
Mr Benson stated that since the incident happened, the woman had been in the hospital but the residents were monitoring to know what will transpire between the Police and the family of the suspects.

Another resident, one Loretta Francis, said that what happened on that day was exhibition of crude and total disregard to sanctity of human  life by the suspects, who willfully wanted to kill the Police woman who was on duty post. She said that the DPO acted professionally to have detained the suspects and impounded the vehicle because they did not have any business coming out that day against the directive of the Federal Government.

When P.M.EXPRESS correspondent visited the Oko-Oba Division, findings revealed that the suspects wrote statements and the vehicle was at the Police Station while the victim, Inspector Joy, was still at the hospital and was referred to Lagos Island General Hospital to further check up.It was also discovered that the family of the suspects have not had any contact with the DPO rather they contacted one ACP Agboola Agboola attached to Lagos State Command and lied to him but when Agboola heard the facts of the matter, he hands off.

One of the residents, Mr. Benson, said “Allegations against the DPO or the DTO were out of refusal by the DPO to grant the suspects bail based on the fact that the victim deserved fair judgement because she was discharging her lawful duty and a National assignment especially during this lockdown orchestrated by the Coronavirus ravaging the world.
After P.M.EXPRESS investigation on the matter, it was safe to conclude that it was nothing but a mere and baseless allegation just to tarnish the image of the DPO and that of the Nigeria Police.Police sources at the Station said that the suspects will be charged to Court for attempted murder and other related offences over their utter display of total disregard for the sanctity of human life.