Victim Hit By Stray Bullet Accuses Lagos Police Command Of Protecting Policemen Involved

Tunde Adeparusi, a security expert, has called out the Lagos State Police Command for protecting the policemen that allegedly shot him in the airport area of the state.

The security expert stated that all effort made by his lawyer to meet with the Investigating Police Officer in charge of the case was denied by the policemen at the command, he further revealed that calls put across to the IPO was not answered.

The victim claimed that the command is making all effort to sweep the case under the carpet.

Earlier report had revealed that Adeparusi was shot by some policemen attached to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.

While on his way to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on July 20 he was hit by one of the bullets allegedly fired by the policemen who were chasing suspects in the airport tollgate area.

The victim, who was waiting at the tollgate to pay the gate fee, was hit by the stray bullet which pierced his car.

According to Punch, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Edgal Imohimi, had ordered the arrest of the four policemen, Inspector Christian Offor, Inspector Kingsley Umeji, Sergeant David Eguavoen and Sergeant Paul Ebo and the commencement of investigation into the incident.

The CP had stated that if the allegations against the officers was established, they should be marched before the command’s provost for orderly room trial.

Adeparusi claimed that the way the command is handling the matter has given him little confidence that justice would be served.

He claimed that the command’s provost said he was not aware that someone was injured in the incident.

The security expert said, “I want the public to see the injustice that is being perpetrated by the police. As a citizen of this country, I think I deserve justice; but now, justice has not been served by the people that ought to do so.

“I was almost killed because the police were indiscriminate in the way they handle firearms at the airport and the authorities are not doing anything about it.

“After the policemen were paraded before me and I was told that investigation would be carried out, nothing has been done since the incident happened three months ago.

“The last time I spoke with the officer in charge, one Mr Kayode, he told me that he had done what he ought to do and that it was left for the provost to determine what to do. Further calls to the IPO were not picked.

“When I called the provost, I was shocked when he said he did not know that someone was injured in the incident. I feel the police are trying to sweep the case under the carpet because it is obvious that they are not doing anything about it.”

Adeparusi, who noted that the injury he sustained in his eye and ear had left him disabled, said his doctor had suggested an operation abroad.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, declined comment on the matter, saying he had commented on it in the past.

He said, “I stand by my previous statement; I cannot react more than the reaction I gave earlier. I have nothing else to say about the matter. Do we have to cut their head on a golden plate and serve him before he knows that they have been dealt with?“