Tragedy struck at the Ogoja Market,
LASU-Igando Road, Lagos State, after operatives of the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad shot dead an undergraduate of a polytechnic in Edo
State, Eldanojie Joseph.
The 20-year-old business administration
student was said to be on a visit to his cousin, Friday Ojah, who lived
on Alape Street, Iba Ojo, when he was hit by a stray bullet.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the operatives were chasing a suspected Internet fraudster, identified as Badoo, who had parked his car and fled upon sighting the officers.
The operatives were said to have started shooting sporadically.
The Esan, Edo State indigene, who had reportedly gone out to buy a canned drink with his cousin, was hit by a stray bullet.
He was said to have died on the spot.
Our correspondent was told that the
officers took Joseph’s corpse, dumped it in the boot of the suspected
fraudster’s car and drove off.
The cousin, Ojah, told our correspondent
on Thursday that the police, in order to cover up their misdeed, said
Joseph was a cult member.
He explained that Joseph had only arrived in Lagos about three weeks ago.
He said, “We grew up and attended the
same primary and secondary schools together. He gained admission into a
polytechnic in Edo State, while I am still processing my admission into
the same school.
“Around 9.30am on Monday, we strolled
out to buy a can of soft drink. We were returning home when we learnt
that some policemen were chasing somebody.
“We decided to go through the back of
the market. As we turned back, my brother was hit by a bullet in the
head and he fell down immediately.
“As I tried to call for help, I saw that the policeman that shot him had aimed his gun at me. I fled the place immediately.”
He said the officers put the corpse in the boot of the car left by the suspected fraudster and drove away.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the corpse was taken to the SARS headquarters in Ikeja, from where it was taken to a morgue.
Our correspondent was told that the SARS
team that conducted the operation alleged that the victim was a cult
member and he had attempted to shoot at them when they fired back.
“But it was all lies. He only had the
canned drink we bought, a phone charger and a handset on him when the
incident happened. The police lied to cover up their misdeed,” Ojah
added.
The policemen on the team that killed the victim were identified as Lucky, Oganla.
A legal practitioner and family friend
of the victim, Saheed Sanni, decried the killing, saying the policemen
must be arrested and brought to book.
He said, “Cases like this, involving
SARS officers, have become rampant in the state. They kill with impunity
and believe they can always get away with it. Whereas Section 33 of the
1999 Constitution protects the sanctity of human lives and prescribes
punishment for violation of that sanctity. You cannot just take
anybody’s life without a court order or judgment. We are taking up the
case and justice must be done.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP
Dolapo Badmos, said she had yet to be briefed on the incident, adding
that she would get back as soon as the Officer-in-Charge of SARS briefed
her.
She said, “The OC SARS has yet to brief
the command on that issue and he has been directed to do so. I will get
back as soon as I have the facts of the case.”
Source:Punch
Source:Punch
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