Policemen who trailed some suspected robbers to their alleged hideout in the Ilaje-Ajah area of Lagos State on Monday caused confusion after stray bullets from their gun killed a 33-year-old man
Orimisan Emmanuel
Controversy occurred in the Ilaje-Ajah area of Lagos state at 3pm on Monday, 20th of July when policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Unit, SARS stormed the area in a van following an intel about the presence of some criminals in the area.
The policemen started shooting sporadically in the alleged hide-out in the Ilaje community. The deceased was reportedly sleeping in his house when he had sporadic gun shots and came out of his house to inquire about what was happening. This led to the death of a 33-year old man named Orimisan Emmanuel who was hit by stray bullets fired by the SARS operatives.
The SARS operatives took his corpse with them on the confirmation of his death.
According to Punch Metro, the SARS operatives allegedly contacted the Ajah Police Division, Ajiwe, to inform the division about their operation in the area.
Punch correspondent learnt that the incident led to a protest in the area, as the people expressed their anger at the actions of the policemen.
One of the residents, identified only as Lukman, said, “At about 2.30pm, we saw SARS operatives. They were about eight men. They came in here and began to shoot.
“That was when their bullets hit one of our people. When they realised he was dead, they took his corpse and left.
The man was sleeping in his house. The whole town is boiling presently.
He is neither a robber nor a cultist. People were shocked when they learnt that he had been killed by the policemen.”
The deceased’s elder brother, Adeogo Emmanuel, expressed his pains as his brother was an easy going young man. He laments the unavailability of his brother's corpse for proper burial.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed that SARS operatives from the State Department of Criminal Investigation came to the area, but added that there was no death.
He said, “The information I have is that SARS operatives from the SDCI went to the area, and arrested a robbery suspect. We do not have any record of death or injury.”