Three person have been reported dead following a clash between the police and tricycle riders along Command Road, Meiran, Lagos State.
Report stated that trouble began when a yet-to-be-identified traffic warden allegedly stabbed a tricycle operator, identified only as Eleyele, to death for refusing his demand for N100.
His colleagues who were angered by the development ran after the policeman, who fled the scene.
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After the cop escaped, the protesting crowd carried the victim’s remains to the front of the Meiran Police Division, where it was deposited.
The tricycle operators were said to be protesting the death when they attacked the police station with bottles and stones.
The mob reportedly attempted to set the police station ablaze, but the policemen allegedly dispersed them with bullets and tear gas canisters.
An eyewitness identified only as Yusuf, said the traffic policeman stabbed the victim in the chest, adding that the attack was unprovoked.
He said,
“The incident happened around 9am. The tricyclist was going to a destination when the traffic policeman stopped him and demanded N100. He told the policeman that he just started work and did not have the money. We don’t know if they had an argument, but the policeman suddenly brought out a knife and stabbed the operator in the chest. The man died on the spot.
“Immediately, we attempted to apprehend the policeman, but it was the same knife he used in attacking us till he escaped.
“So, we carried the victim’s corpse to the police station, but the policemen fired bullets and tear gas at us.
“Two months ago, a tricycle operator was killed, but we will not accept this one. The police have arrested a lot of us protesting Eleyele’s death. They put some of the arrested victims in a Black Maria and patrol vehicles. The tricycle leader in our area, known as Istijaba, intervened and told us to settle the matter and we agreed. But the police suddenly opened fire on us again.”
Another eyewitness, Segun, said a roadside vulcaniser was hit by a stray bullet.
He said,
“The vulcaniser should be about 17 years old; it was when the policemen were trying to disperse us that he was killed by a stray bullet. The bullet hit him in the back and all his intestines came out of his stomach.
“The boy’s mother is blind, and two months ago, she lost one of her children. Now, her son is dead again. We also took his corpse to the Meiran Police Station, but the police kept firing tear gas and live bullets at us and other victims suffered bullet wounds. In all, three people were killed and some others are in hospitals getting treatment.”
Business owners and Residents of the area were seen running helter-skelter following the crises.
CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, the state Police Public Relations Officer, said, “The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has dispatched adequate police patrol teams to maintain law and order there. No cause for alarm.”
