No fewer than five persons alleged to be privy of the attack on a police patrol team leading to killing of a policeman and vandalization of a police patrol vehicle are now cooling their feet at Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit , waiting to be charged to court after investigation has been concluded.
The incident took place at College Road, Ifako Ijaiye, Ogba, Lagos when a police patrol team stationed at a black spot in the aforementioned location was attacked by an irate mob for a yet to be determined reason. In the process, Sergeant Esiabor Collins with service number 260326, was attacked and killed. Also, the patrol vehicle was not spared by the rampaging mob which they vandalised.
Preliminary investigation into the incident revealed that the mob, mainly youths had earlier that morning gone to Area ‘G’ Command, Ogba with the intention to overrun the police formation and commit arson but found it impregnable. However, the Area Commander in-charge, spoke to them, promising to cause an investigation into their grievances which bothered on the death of a youth who allegedly died same day, two weeks after an alleged encounter with some policemen.
The police however has said that the police authorities in the state are unaware of any encounter with the deceased as no formal complaint was received to that effect.
In a statement releases by the State Police PRO, CP Chike Oti quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi as stating that “ the penchant to take laws into own hands by some people who easily constitute themselves into a mob is becoming worrisome to say the least”.
The Command wishes state that the deceased officer and indeed the entire patrol team had the option of defending themselves with their firearms against the mob but chose to show restraint in face of provocation but unfortunately the rampaging mob never allowed them that option hence Sgt. Collins paid the supreme price.
The Commissioner of Police, further said that policemen in the state had on several occasions shown restraints in the face of provocative actions. He therefore warns that policemen may be forced to use their firearms to defend themselves, other people about being killed by a mob and in the protection of government assets.
He urges parents to warn their children to refrain from such acts which according to him may lead to a breach of public peace and unnecessary bloodletting.
