JUST IN: Police Inspector shoots man dead in Lagos, arrested

Policemen on patrol

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

A police inspector, Okoro Charles has been arrested for shooting a man dead at Igando area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The victim, one Fatai Oladipupo was shot dead on Wednesday by the police inspector along Obabiyi, Igando road, Ikotun.

Charles is attached to the Ikotun Police Division.

A statement issued by Bala Elkana, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, on Thursday said the culprit had been arrested.

Elkana said Charles would be subjected to internal disciplinary procedures, known as Orderly Room Trial at the State Provost Department and that if found guilty, he would be handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba for prosecution in conventional Court.

He added that investigation was ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident and that the Commissioner of Police condoled with the family and friends of the deceased and called for calm.

In his words: “Lagos State Police Command has on 20/5/2020 arrested Inspector Okoro Charles attached to Ikotun Division. The Inspector was arrested in connection with a shooting incident reported on 20/5/2020 at about 2205, along Obabiyi, Igando road, Ikotun which led to the death of one Fatai Oladipupo ‘m’ 28 years old of Obabiyi area.

“The Inspector is subjected to internal disciplinary procedures, known as Orderly Room Trial at the State Provost Department and if found guilty, he will be handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba for prosecution in conventional Court.

“Investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident. The Commissioner of Police condoles with the family and friends of the deceased and calls for calm. He assures them that Justice will prevail. Members of the Public will be updated on the outcome of the investigation.”

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One Comment

Roberto says:

May 22, 2020 at 8:00 pm

It is not beginning to show why the Nigerian police officers seem to be trigger happy all the time. They have proven over time that they are too ill trained and reckless to be trusted with bearing firearms. One of the most obvious reasons for their high handedness is the so called sham orderly room trial which they supposedly have to process the murderer police officer through before they start a criminal trial. It should be worthy of note that the police are only authorised to use deadly force in very extreme situations like self defence under the apprehension of imminent death or grievous injuries to themselves or public. Police is not supposed to kill an unharmed suspect simply to apprehend or prevent escape. It seems the Nigerian pole have made it a policy not to ever prosecute police murderers because they make their process too long and tedious to be followed, and as soon as the uproar dies down, they usually simply transfer the offending policeman to another city where they continue their criminal activities. Police officers should be subjected to immediate criminal trial for every fatality from their firearm, and if the court finds them not guilty should them go through their internal administrative process, and not the other way round. Far too many murderous police officers in Nigeria get away with taking the lives of innocent Nigerians on a daily basis and the line has now been blurred between blatant criminality and official necessity. It is usually only when high profile Nigerians are the victim that you find any strong action taken against murderous police officers. This should stop, but Nigerians have to act by following up with these cases. They more murderous police officers that get away with murder, the more difficult it will be to keep it from occurring.