Metro

Cop arrested, detained for killing motorist

Published

8 years ago

July 12, 2016

Cop arrested, detained for killing motorist

A policeman who allegedly pushed a motorist to his early death at a motor park in the Iddo area of Oyingbo in the Lagos metropolis has been arrested and detained by the Lagos State Police Command.

This was made known by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed Oche’s arrest and detention, pending investigations.

The suspect, sergeant Mathew Oche who was in the company of other policemen at a checkpoint close to the Iddo motor park reportedly stopped the deceased motorist identified as Francis Ogbole, who was reportedly traveling to Benue State with some of his family members.

Reports say after being stopped, the deceased was asked to produce his vehicle documents which he did but Oche demanded an explanation why the victims rear wind screen was tinted which sources say caused an altercation between them both.

The argument eyewitnesses say made the sergeant to push the victim violently and he reportedly fell injuring his head badly in the process.

Efforts were made to revive Francis who was loosing blood and on realising that the victim had given up the ghost, the policemen reportedly fled the scene of the incident.

Read also: 6 Boko Haram suspects arrested in Lagos

According to a post on Instagram by one of the victims children who identified himself as Ebonyi Ogbole, the police sergeant pushed his father into a gutter after he refused to pay bribe demanded by the policeman.

“Daddy was traveling to Benue State for the burial of his younger sister. On his way to the Iddo motor park, Oyingbo, he was stopped by a team of policemen for a search.

“Dad and three children were in the car. The policemen were in a metro police van with number plate KSF 176 EE. The policemen requested all the necessary papers and dad gave them.

“While he was about to enter his car, a policeman, Sergeant Oche, said my father could not enter his car. He said the rear glass of his car was tinted.

“Dad, however, told him that it was because it was still early morning and that his glass was not tinted.

“The policemen were just looking for a way to extort him. Out of anger, one of them – the sergeant – pushed him. That was how he fell and injured his head. He died minutes later.” The victims son posted on the social media platform.

The police sergeant according to reports is now being detained at the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba with reports suggesting that he could be sacked from the police force before he will be arraigned in court.

That much was also reiterated by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed Oche’s arrest and detention.

“He is being detained at the SDCI, Yaba. He is being investigated. He will be prosecuted soon.”

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