There was a pandemonium in Onipanu area of Lagos State on Sunday morning as aggrieved youths went on the rampage to protest the killing of a man, identified as Femi Best by a police officer suspected to be a Divisional Police Officer in charge of a nearby division.
PUNCH METRO learnt that the DPO allegedly shot Best at Onipanu bus stop around 5am as the victim attempted to run into Onipanu Police Station.
The youths in their hundreds were said to have barricaded the road and demanded that the killer cop be handed over to them for instant justice.
The protest later turned to a clash between the youths and policemen from the division, who were bent on protecting the officer.
Our correspondent gathered that the DPO had been chasing Best from Jibowu area of the state before he caught him in front of the station.
There were conflicting reports on what transpired between the duo before the DPO pulled the trigger.
Some eyewitnesses said Best incurred the wrath of the officer when he refused to stop his car when DPO and his men on patrol ordered him to do so. Others said they heard gunshots when Best was driving and the DPO thought he was a fleeing armed robber.
But some said Best in turn thought that the policemen were armed robbers because they all wore plain clothes and were in unmarked vehicles.
However, nobody could explain why the DPO shot and killed Best when it was apparent he wanted to run into the police station.
As the youths became enraged, the policemen used tear-gas and shot into the air to disperse the crowd.
“Some people were injured as the police shot at us. Those who were injured were taken to the hospital,” an eyewitness told out correspondent.
But the spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Frank Mba, said neither did the policemen shoot at the protesters nor was anybody injured during the protest.
He said, “Their reason for protesting was understandable. So, why would anyone want to hurt them again? The police just made sure that the protest did not resort to looting and violence.
“As for the killing, it happened today (Sunday) at about 5am. A young man, who was later identified as Femi Best, was shot and fatally injured in front of Onipanu Police Station under circumstances yet to be determined. He died on his way to the hospital.
“The incident drew the attention of police officers from the police station, who secured the scene of crime and carried out a preliminary investigation before the arrival of detectives from Homicide Department of the State CID, Yaba. A police officer attached to the command accused of being the author of the crime has been arrested and is currently assisting investigators.
“A team of senior officers of the command led by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, has visited the scene for on-the-spot assessment.
“While commiserating with families and friends of the deceased, the command wishes to re-assure them that the matter will be thoroughly investigated.”
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