The Lagos state Police Command has arrested a police officer who shot and killed a truck driver along Creek Road in Apapa Lagos yesterday.
The Policeman was arrested alongside 18 suspected hoodlums who allegedly set ablaze two commercial banks; Sterling Bank and Diamond Bank.
The command’s spokesman, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday said the command received a distress call from the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of a new generation bank located in the area.
“The caller said hoodlums were trying to take laws into their hands by setting the bank ablaze following the shooting of a tank driver by a policeman attached to the bank during an altercation”, he said.
According to Famous-Cole, the caller said hoodlums were trying to take laws into their hands by setting the bank ablaze following the shooting of a tanker driver by a policeman attached to the bank after an altercation.
He said operatives of the command including the Area Commander Apapa, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and other security agents quickly mobilized to the scene to take charge of the situation.
“Operatives of the command including the Area Commander, Apapa, the Rapid Response Squad, and other security agents quickly rushed to the scene to take charge of the situation.
“The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, was also present at the scene of the incident.
“If not for the quick intervention of the Police, the hoodlums would have wrecked more havoc as they destroyed private properties and valuables.
“A mob had gathered in front of the bank demanding that the trigger-happy policeman be released to them, but the bank refused, leading to the arson and further attack on another bank’s branch located on Wharf Road.
“The fire at the banks was put out by the police and other security agencies as the tanker driver, identified as Azeez was rushed immediately to the hospital for treatment,” he said.
Famous-Cole, however, said the driver was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital.
He said: “Contrary to reports making the rounds, only one tanker driver was shot.
“The policeman has been arrested and will be charged to court immediately, the 18 suspected hoodlums also arrested are also undergoing investigations.
“The command would like to address the members of the public on impunity and jungle justice in the state.
“We are no longer going to tolerate the act of lawlessness and impunity by members of the public.”
The police spokesman said normalcy had been restored to the area.
He added that but for the quick intervention of the Police, the hoodlums would have wreaked more havoc as they destroyed private properties and valuables.
He explained that a mob had gathered in front of the bank demanding the trigger-happy policeman be released to them, but the bank authorities refused, leading to the arson and further attack on another bank branch located on Wharf Road.
He further explained that the fire at the banks was put out by the police and other security agencies as the tanker driver identified as Azeez was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment and was confirmed dead upon arrival at the hospital.
He however said that contrary to reports making rounds in the news, only one tanker driver was shot.
“We are no longer going to tolerate the act of lawlessness and impunity by members of the public”, the spokesman said.
He said investigations are ongoing and normalcy had since been restored to the area.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that, business activities at the Apapa port in Lagos were paralysed for several hours as a mobile police officer stationed at Diamond Bank along Creek road in Apapa allegedly shot a truck driver for refusing to give bribe.
The number of the container truck is AGL 222XC
Two commercial banks; Diamond Bank and Sterling Bank were set ablaze completely in a reprisal attack by truck drivers while several other banks in Apapa closed shops immediately.
Many vehicles belonging to staff of Sterling bank and Bollore Shipping were destroyed by the angry truck drivers.
Shipping Position Daily correspondent who was at the scene of the pandemonium reported that trouble ensued at 10am on Wednesday when a mobile police officer attached to Diamond Bank requested N200 bribe from a truck driver who refused. An altercation ensued and the officer shot the driver on the head.
Eye witnesses reported that other drivers chased the police officer to nearby Sterling bank where other security officers gave him shelter. This action also caused the truckers to attack the bank. A truck driver was also shot by a police officer while pouring petrol on the bank.
Subsequently, military men and police officers from Area 'B' police station were deployed to restore peace and order.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily, a staff of Diamond bank who identified himself as Chief Security Officer of Diamond Bank reported that staff of the bank were trapped inside the bank during the riot and the fire.
"Our staff were trapped inside the bank during the chaos, they had to hide inside the vault until the fire fighters came around to put off the fire"
"The fire fighters could not get here with their truck, and this allowed the fire to burn until some of them took bike down here"
Giving an account of the incident, one of the bank officials told our correspondent that the truck driver had parked his truck in front of the bank and the officer asked him to leave.
"Immediately he reversed, he came out of the truck to challenge the police officer who was holding a gun"
"Immediately the gun shot was fired, all the Truckers inside their vehicles came out and attacked the officer and they set our bank on fire"
Also speaking with our correspondent, some of the truck drivers who gathered in front of Apapa port said that the corpse of their colleague has been deposited at the Apapa General Hospital.
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