By Mary Izuaka

 

A police sergeant, Johnson Okediji, has been killed after a driver allegedly crushed him during a stop-and-search operation in the Egbeda area of Lagos State.

The incident occurred along Olugbede Street on 26 September.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday.

Mr Tijani said officers on stop-and-search duty had flagged down a Lexus ES 350 driven by Olusola Olumide, a 21-year-old phone seller.

According to him, the driver initially stopped but suddenly sped off as Sergeant Okediji approached the driver’s side.

“The sergeant was knocked down, and his body was dragged under the moving vehicle,” the commissioner said.

He said the driver refused to stop despite efforts by other police officers and passersby who attempted to halt the vehicle.

“The driver was eventually chased and arrested. The officer sustained multiple fractures and serious head injuries.

“He was taken to the nearby hospital and subsequently referred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital  (LASUTH), where he was unfortunately pronounced dead on arrival,” Mr Tijani said.

The police commissioner said the trend of drivers speeding off when asked to pull over during stop-and-search operations has become worrisome.

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Narrating his own account, Mr Olumide claimed the car suffered brake failure and that he did not deliberately hit the officer.

“My car brake failed, and I accidentally ran over the officer. I was about to park, but there was a slip, and I hit the car in front of me. I couldn’t stop the car,” he said.

He said he had taken the car to a mechanic days before the incident to change the brake pads.

“I took the car to the mechanic to change the brake pad, and he told me that he had changed it. The next day, I went to buy fuel before I saw the officers,” the suspect said.

Mr Olumide added that the officers at the checkpoint knew him and were aware that he had not deliberately hit the deceased officer.