Three policemen may have been killed in an accident which occurred when they were chasing a motorcyclist at Cement Bus Stop on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos, on Friday.
Eyewitnesses said the accident, which occurred early in the morning, involved riot policemen.
A vulcaniser, who has his workshop close to the scene, told our correspondent that if not because he arrived at his shop late, he would have witnessed the accident as it happened right in front of where he plies his trade.
The man, who pleaded anonymity, said, “I got here and saw people discussing the accident.
“I was told that the policemen were in a Rapid Response Squad van. The van was chasing an okada rider, who was riding against the traffic and heading to Oshodi. The rider carried two passengers.
“They had almost caught the rider when he escaped through a side street. The police van lost control as the driver, who was on high speed, applied the brake suddenly. The van ran into a stationary bus.
“The policemen at the back of the van were flung out. I heard that the lifeless bodies of three of the policemen were taken away from here.”
Other residents of the area said when the policemen were flung out of the van, some of them might have hit their head on the culvert by the road.
However, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, told Punch on the telephone that it was a minor accident.
“The information you got is wrong. The policemen heeded a distress call and were hit from the back by a bus.
“Two of the policemen sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. They have since been discharged,” she said. [Punch]
Note that this information stated that they where chasing an okada rider who was moving against traffic and probably will be moving in the same direction with the okada rider in order to catch them. Now how come they were hit by another vehicle behind? Does it mean they were all moving against the traffic. Who is fooling who here.
It is evident that Ngozi is totaly oblivious of the Lagos State command she speaks for. Distress call??? Does this lady know the ridiculous activities of her force around that area? Their specialization is running after okada riders against traffic on the highway while the primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties has so much to be desired. So help us God.