A 21-year-old driver, Olumide Olushola, has been arrested over the death of a police sergeant, Johnson Okediji, during a stop-and-search operation in the Egbeda area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred around 2.20pm on Saturday, September 26, along Olugbede Street, according to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani.
Tijani said officers conducting stop-and-search operations flagged down the Lexus ES 350, with registration number FKJ 223 KX, driven by Olushola.
The driver initially stopped but allegedly sped off as Okediji approached the driver’s side, knocking the officer down and dragging him beneath the vehicle for several metres.
The sergeant sustained multiple fractures and serious head injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital before being referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
His remains were deposited at the Mainland Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy, while the vehicle was recovered by the police.
Olushola, who was paraded at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja on Monday, denied deliberately hitting the officer.
He claimed the Lexus suffered brake failure and that he had been trying to stop when the vehicle struck the sergeant and another vehicle.
The suspect said he had used the Lexus for about a month and took it to a mechanic a day before the incident after noticing problems with the brakes. He said the mechanic replaced all the brake pads.
Olushola also admitted that the brakes were still slipping after he bought fuel on the day of the incident but said he intended to return the vehicle to the mechanic later that day.
The suspect, who said he sells phones, gadgets and laptops, identified the Lexus as his mother’s vehicle and said he had been helping her drive it.
The police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the sergeant’s death were ongoing.
Meanwhile, Tijani said the command had arrested 32 suspects for various offences during the period under review.
Items recovered included 43 vehicles, two vehicle keys, vandalised electrical wires, N2.5m cash, five pump-action guns, five locally made pistols, 20 live ammunition and cartridges, and 15 expended ammunition.
The police also recovered two cutlasses, suspected criminal charms, a television set, a radiator and a bag containing vehicle spare parts and tools.
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