An eight-month-old baby, Jamiu Oniyemi, is currently admitted to a hospital after a policeman allegedly hit him and his mother, while riding a seized tricycle in the Isheri Oshun area of Lagos State.
The policeman, identified only as Mark, had seized the tricycle from a rider on Ijegun Road and was heading for the Isheri Oshun Police Division when the accident occurred.
Our correspondent learnt that Mark allegedly ran into the woman, identified as Maryam Oniyemi, after which she fell. The tricycle was also said to have climbed Jamiu, who was strapped to his mother’s back.
It was gathered that the incident occurred around 1pm at the Water Corporation area on Iyana Isheri Road last Tuesday.
Angry onlookers forced the policeman to rush Maryam, a mother of three, and Jamiu to a private hospital for treatment.
It was learnt that the policeman was later arrested and detained at the Isheri Oshun station.
When our reporter visited the hospital, Jamiu’s father, Ismaila Oniyemi, who worked as a mechanic in the Ago Okota area, said his wife and son’s accident had affected his vocation, as he had to spend a lot of time with them.
He added that the Divisional Police Officer had, however, visited his wife and child and paid for the hospital bills incurred so far.
He said, “My wife was returning from her sister’s place on the day. Our eight-month-old boy was strapped to her back. When she got to the Water Corporation junction on Police Road, also called Iyana Isheri Road, the policeman hit them with a tricycle and they fell.
“Onlookers attested to the fact that the policeman hit them by the roadside. My wife said Jamiu was removed from under the tricycle. He sustained injuries in the head. The policeman was said to have seized the tricycle from a rider and he was taking it to the police station. But he probably could not ride it well and the accident occurred.
“Both victims were rushed here (hospital) and they are responding to treatment. But this incident has affected my work. The DPO has been supportive. He has been coming to visit us since last Tuesday.”
A resident of the area, who gave his name only as Awokunle, said the police authorities should discipline overbearing policemen from the Isheri Oshun division, who allegedly had a habit of mounting checkpoints on Ijegun Road and seizing tricycles to extort money from drivers.
He said, “It was a miracle that the boy survived the accident. The mother also sustained injuries.
“I learnt that the policeman is in detention. It is common for policemen to pursue tricycle drivers on this road. We want the relevant authorities to investigate this. Policemen have caused a lot of accidents on this road. They mount roadblocks indiscriminately on Ijegun Road.
“After causing an accident, they will run away for three or four days. Since the Tuesday incident, they stopped coming here. Residents coming late at night cannot get tricycles to take them home because of the police troubles.”
Our correspondent learnt that Jamiu had an X-ray to undergo, and the DPO had given about N25,000 to the family to settle the bills.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the policeman involved had taken responsibility for the incident.
She said, “It is an accident case, and the policeman has taken responsibility for the mother and child. He has also been paying the hospital bills. I do not have information whether he seized the tricycle.”
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