Police Officer Kills Customer In Lagos Hotel

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A customer who came to drink was shot and killed in a Lagos hotel after hot exchange of words and attempt to disarm a mobile police officer attached to the popular hotel.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the popular Ileviaoje Hotel and Suites located at Obalade Street, Ajagun Estate, Ijegun, Lagos.

The victim identified as Jude a.k.a Cornell was said to have been hit by the bullet released by the unidentified officer, who was said to be on the run now.

Following the incident, youths in the area mobilised, attacked the hotel, damaged about seven vehicles parked inside and almost razed the main hotel building. It took the intervention of the DPO Isheri Oshun Division and his team, who went there and prevented the irate youths from causing more damages in the hotel.

The Area Commander, Area M, Idimu, ACP Augustines Akika, later came to the scene to back up the Isheri Oshun Division. The corpse of the deceased was retrieved by the police and deposited at the Yaba mortuary for autopsy report.

What would have made the police officer to shoot the victim was still a thing of surprise to the residents who claimed that it was a case of murder.

It was learnt that the victim and his friends went to the hotel to drink and while they were inside there, they quarreled among themselves. The police officer who was with his AK47 rifle, went to them, confronted and asked the victim to leave the hotel premises if they wanted to fight.

It was gathered the victim and the police officer had an exchange of hot words, to the extent that the victim held his gun and attempted to disarmed him. It was during the scuffle that the police officer was said to have shot him, he fell down and died immediately. By the time he was taken to a hospital, he was already dead and the doctors certified him death.

When our correspondent visited the hotel on Thursday, about six police vehicles and officers were present in front of the hotel and were battle ready.
The manager of the hotel confirmed the incident but said that he was not present when the incident happened. He said that from what he heard from his staff, the victim wanted to disarm the officer before he was shot. He said the youths then looted and destroyed properties inside the hotel before the police came and restored normalcy there.

Meanwhile, the hotel has been temporary shut down for business and seven of the angry youths were said to have been arrested and detained at Area M Command, Idimu over the looting and destruction of properties at the hotel.

When our correspondent visited the Area Commander, ACP Akika, he confirmed the incident and said that the police have restored normalcy there. He declined further comments and referred the reporter to PPRO.

The late Jude hailed from Enugu State and resided with his parents in Lagos before he met his death at the hotel.