Badagry (Lagos State) – The youths in Badagry, Lagos State, on Friday violently protested the alleged killing of one Mr Joshua Sewuji by an unidentified policeman from the Badagry Police Division.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that protesters resorted to damaging and burning police posts and tyres on the roads to prevent easy movement around the town.
The protesting youths carried different placards some of which read: “Enough is Enough of This Police Brutality’’, “We Are Tired of Police Killing People’’ and “No More Extortion From the Police’’ among others.
NAN reports that some police traffic wardens were also assaulted by the irate youths.
It took the timely intervention of the Nigerian Army from Topo and Ibereko Barracks to prevent the violence from escalating.
Soldiers were placed at different strategic locations in the town to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
A NAN correspondent covering the protest learnt that the incident happened near the palace of the Akran of Badagry at about 10 p.m. on Thursday (Dec. 3).
There were two different accounts of the incident which led to the death of the victim.
Mr Yemi Akande, who claimed to have witnessed to the incident, told NAN that some boys were just relaxing when some policemen came to arrest them.
“Around past 10 p.m. last night, some boys were just talking and eating when policemen on night patrol came to arrest them for no reason.
“The victim challenged them, asking to know the reason for their arrest and one of the policemen just shot the boy in stomach and he died instantly.
“As soon as they saw that he was dead, they ran away in their vehicles,’’ he said.
Another eyewitness account by a man who simply identified himself as Idowu, said the policemen came and shot at the gathering of people.
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“Some people were gathered near the palace when the policemen on night patrol just came and shot at the gathering which resulted in the death of the deceased.
“The policemen in the area are fond of harassing the youths and extorting money from people, we have had more than enough of police harassment,’’ he said.
A senior police officer at the Police Divisional Headquarters in Badagry, Area K Police Station, told NAN on condition of anonymity that the officer who was involved had been arrested.
The source which pleaded anonymity, also said that the policeman had been transferred to the State CID, Panti for further investigation.
The source said that the officer involved would face the full wrath of the law if found guilty. (NAN)
