The Nigerian police denied chasing a young man into a canel in the Ipaja area of Lagos State on Wednesday.
In a statement on X.com on Thursday, #Omorhemi, who claimed to be a friend of the victim’s wife, alleged that the police stopped the deceased on a bike, searched him, and accused him of being a “yahoo boy” due to his tattoos.
Sharing videos from the rescue effort, Omorhemi wrote, “Yesterday morning, police chased my friend’s husband till he fell into the canal. They took his slippers and money that fell and left when people started shouting. This happened at the federal bus stop, Ipaja Ayobo axis. He is currently unconscious at LASUTH. He is still on oxygen.”
“The officers were on mufti. They stopped him on the bike; the bike man left. They searched him, insisting he is a Yahoo boy because of his tattoos, and started cocking their guns that they would shoot him. He started moving away, saying he’s not, and they started following him till he ran,” she added.
In another statement on Friday morning, #Omorhemi gave an update that the young died.
“He has given up! Yet to tell the wife as of now. I am not pleased to inform you that this young man died in the middle of the night.
“On Wednesday, a few hours after the incident, the wife went to the police station, Area P, to report. The officers told her they were the ones that pushed him. She couldn’t wait and wasn’t stable while still trying to get the husband to receive the best treatment. All hands have been on deck to make sure the man survived, which was why follow-up at the station was not done,” she wrote.
In a statement issued Friday evening, Lagos State Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin presented a different account of the incident, indicating that the police did not chase or interact with the man but rather that he fled and jumped into the canal when he saw the police approaching.
Hundeyin wrote, “The police visited the scene and met eyewitnesses on the ground who voluntarily gave their statements regarding the unfortunate incident.
“At about 10 am on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, somewhere around Gowon Estate, the young man was a passenger on a motorcycle riding against traffic.
“Immediately they sighted the police approaching in their vehicle; the rider made a sharp U-turn while the passenger jumped off the motorcycle, crossed the road, and ran through the nearby tipper garage.
“People in the garage who saw him running towards the canal and at the same time emptying the contents of his pockets agitatedly warned him about a canal ahead. He did not stop but unfortunately jumped into the canal.”
Hundeyin emphasised that the officers did not interact with the victim or chase him.
He added, “The police officers, startled at his knee-jerk reaction, stopped their vehicle, alighted, and went in the direction of the canal.
“The people around informed the police that the young man jumped into the canal. They all went to look, waited some minutes, and did not see him, upon which the police left, believing he successfully evaded them.
“The police officers did not speak with him, did not touch him, did not chase him, did nothing. The young man simply saw them and bolted.
“Water Tipper Garage, Mosan, Okunola, Ipaja. That is the exact location for those who might wish to visit for verification.”
Hundeyin also expressed condolences to the victim’s family, saying, “May God give his family the fortitude to bear the sad loss. Amen.”
He further assured the public that the police would not tolerate any unprofessional behaviour from their officers.
“Lagosians are assured that #LagosPoliceNG, under CP Olanrewaju Ishola, would not condone any form of unprofessional conduct on the part of its officers,” he said.
