The Lagos State Police Command has detained an assistant superintendent of police, Omotayo Olajide, after a bullet from his firearm killed a girl and injured another during a police operation in Ajegunle.
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The incident occurred between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 November, in the Nosamu area of the community, where officers had responded to a clash between two rival groups.
The groups, identified as Nosamu Boys and Alayabiagba Boys, were reportedly fighting over toll collection and armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
In a statement on Saturday, the police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, said officers were deployed after receiving a distress call about the clash.
She noted that Mr Olajide discharged his firearm during the operation, hitting the two girls.
Both victims were taken to Ajeromi General Hospital. One was later transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, where she died. The police identified her as Omole Taiwo.
The second girl is receiving medical attention and is in stable condition, the command said.
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Mr Olajide has been disarmed and detained, while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, visited the deceased’s family to offer his condolences and assured them that the investigation would be thorough. He also said no officer found culpable would be protected.
The police did not explain how the firearm was discharged or whether the officer deliberately fired during the confrontation.
Previous Ajegunle shooting
The shooting brings back memories of a similar incident in Ajegunle in April 2019, when a police inspector, Dania Ojo, shot dead 20-year-old Ada Ifeanyi and injured Emmanuel Akomafuwa.
The police arrested five officers who were with Ms Ojo and declared her wanted after she fled.
Ms Ojo was later dismissed from the force after an investigation found her guilty of abusing her authority and unlawfully using his firearm.
The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, which examined the incident, also found her culpable and recommended that he answer for his actions.
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Another fatal shooting in Lagos
In February, two passersby were also killed during a police operation in Alagbado, Lagos.
The officers were reportedly pursuing suspected internet fraudsters when gunfire struck the two victims. The police confirmed the arrest of the officers involved and ordered an investigation.
A report in March stated that the police had yet to publish the findings of the investigation, despite an earlier promise to do so.