Two policemen and their driver were reportedly killed yesterday when soldiers opened fire on their bus at Festac Town in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
A motorist driving an Honda Accord car and a security guard also fell to the soldiers’ bullets.
But the police claimed that their men were not killed, but injured.
The incident occurred at the 7th Avenue via T Close/4th Avenue, where the soldiers have been stationed since Monday’s gun battle with pipeline vandals.
The guard, Mohammed Idris, was hit in the eye as he dashed back to his duty post from where he went to buy noodles on hearing sounds of gunshots.
The officers were led by Inspector Muhammed Adamu Area ‘E’ Command, FESTAC Town.
They were said to be chasing the Honda Accord driver, who they mistook for a robber.
They fired at him to stop but he drove on.
It was learnt that the soldiers returned fire, thinking that they were being attacked.
Many fled as guns boomed. Some hurriedly closed their shops; others remained indoors.
An eyewitness said the policemen were trailing a man who went to a bank on 23 Road.
“The guy drove a green Honda Accord marked AAA354DW coming from the bank where he went to exchange hard currency. The policemen I learnt were tracing him from the bank in a shuttle bus. Some people said the officers are fond of using shuttle bus to operate.
“On getting to where the soldiers mounted a road block due to Monday’s gun duel with some vandals, the policemen shot. They traced the man into the soldiers’ barricade, shooting sporadically. The soldiers returned fire, killing the two policemen inside the shuttle bus and the driver,” he said.
The driver identified as Murphy drove a FESTAC Shuttle bus marked JJJ602XM.
Another eyewitness said the late Idris went to buy noodles from a nearby makeshift shop.
“The shop is close to his security post. When the people there heard gunshot, some ran away, the shop owner laid down to avoid being hit. Idris was trying to rush back to his duty post when he was hit by the stray bullet on the right eye. He died on the spot,” he said.
According to the witness, the policemen were in mufti and police jacket.
Later officers from Area ‘E’ came to evacuate the bodies.
Police spokesman, Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), described the incident as an act of omission.
He denied that the policemen were dead, saying they are in hospital.
Offor said: “At FESTAC Town, a man was attacked after he had withdrawn money from a commercial bank. As he was leaving the bank with the money, two men on motorcycle accosted him and made away with the money.
“Some sympathisers alerted the police at FESTAC Division. By the time the police got there, the robbers had fled.
“Somehow, some mischievous guys in the area saw a moving Honda Accord and started shouting that he was the thief.
“Meanwhile, the driver of the Honda did not know he was the one they were talking about and was still moving at his own pace.
“When he got to the checkpoint mounted by the soldiers, who were stationed along 7th Avenue because of pipeline vandals, he made to drive through.
“But the soldiers thinking that the driver was truly a robber, who was trying to escape, opened fire on the moving vehicle. The bullet hit two of our men and the civilian.
“Contrary to rumours making the rounds, our men didn’t die. They were injured and they are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.”
A motorist driving an Honda Accord car and a security guard also fell to the soldiers’ bullets.
But the police claimed that their men were not killed, but injured.
The incident occurred at the 7th Avenue via T Close/4th Avenue, where the soldiers have been stationed since Monday’s gun battle with pipeline vandals.
The guard, Mohammed Idris, was hit in the eye as he dashed back to his duty post from where he went to buy noodles on hearing sounds of gunshots.
The officers were led by Inspector Muhammed Adamu Area ‘E’ Command, FESTAC Town.
They were said to be chasing the Honda Accord driver, who they mistook for a robber.
They fired at him to stop but he drove on.
It was learnt that the soldiers returned fire, thinking that they were being attacked.
Many fled as guns boomed. Some hurriedly closed their shops; others remained indoors.
An eyewitness said the policemen were trailing a man who went to a bank on 23 Road.
“The guy drove a green Honda Accord marked AAA354DW coming from the bank where he went to exchange hard currency. The policemen I learnt were tracing him from the bank in a shuttle bus. Some people said the officers are fond of using shuttle bus to operate.
“On getting to where the soldiers mounted a road block due to Monday’s gun duel with some vandals, the policemen shot. They traced the man into the soldiers’ barricade, shooting sporadically. The soldiers returned fire, killing the two policemen inside the shuttle bus and the driver,” he said.
The driver identified as Murphy drove a FESTAC Shuttle bus marked JJJ602XM.
Another eyewitness said the late Idris went to buy noodles from a nearby makeshift shop.
“The shop is close to his security post. When the people there heard gunshot, some ran away, the shop owner laid down to avoid being hit. Idris was trying to rush back to his duty post when he was hit by the stray bullet on the right eye. He died on the spot,” he said.
According to the witness, the policemen were in mufti and police jacket.
Later officers from Area ‘E’ came to evacuate the bodies.
Police spokesman, Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), described the incident as an act of omission.
He denied that the policemen were dead, saying they are in hospital.
Offor said: “At FESTAC Town, a man was attacked after he had withdrawn money from a commercial bank. As he was leaving the bank with the money, two men on motorcycle accosted him and made away with the money.
“Some sympathisers alerted the police at FESTAC Division. By the time the police got there, the robbers had fled.
“Somehow, some mischievous guys in the area saw a moving Honda Accord and started shouting that he was the thief.
“Meanwhile, the driver of the Honda did not know he was the one they were talking about and was still moving at his own pace.
“When he got to the checkpoint mounted by the soldiers, who were stationed along 7th Avenue because of pipeline vandals, he made to drive through.
“But the soldiers thinking that the driver was truly a robber, who was trying to escape, opened fire on the moving vehicle. The bullet hit two of our men and the civilian.
“Contrary to rumours making the rounds, our men didn’t die. They were injured and they are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.”
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