Eyewitnesses have recounted how a yet-to-be-identified policeman was killed on Wednesday by rampaging commercial motorcyclists, known better as Okada riders, in the Cele-Ijesha area of Lagos State.
The Okada riders were said to be protesting against the enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcycle operations in the area when the incident happened.
It was gathered that during the clash, the motorcyclists also injured a Divisional Police Officer who was said to be part of the team enforcing the ban in the community.
During the enforcement around 11 am on Wednesday, it was learnt that the policemen accosted a motorcyclist plying the Mile 2-Cele axis.
In an attempt to seize the motorcycle, the motorcyclist resisted and other motorcyclists who witnessed the incident intervened to support their colleague which resulted in a clash with the policemen.
An eyewitness, who did not want his name in print for security reasons, told our correspondent that during the clash, one of the policemen attempted to use his gun to scare the motorcyclist and his colleagues away, adding that the motorcyclists overpowered the policeman and allegedly killed him.
The eyewitness said, “The policemen were trying to arrest one of the motorcycle riders shuttling the Cele-Ijesha and Mile 2 areas. It was while the motorcyclist was resisting arrest that other motorcyclists intervened and demanded the release of their colleague’s motorcycle.
“When the policemen refused and tried to drive the motorcyclists away, they refused to back down and stopped the policemen from leaving the spot. Then, one of the policemen tried to scare them away with his gun but they overpowered him and killed him.”
Another eyewitness, who gave his name simply as Dehinde, said the policemen hurriedly left the scene after realising that their colleague had been killed.
He said, “Immediately the policeman was killed, his colleagues who ran away called for reinforcement, and by the time they returned, the motorcyclists had fled. They were also seen brandishing different weapons while leaving the scene of the clash.”
The clash caused tension in the area as commuters and traders scampered to safety to avoid being hurt.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, while reacting to the development, said two suspects had been arrested, adding that 41 motorcycles were impounded.
