OSBC
September 27, 2021
The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has arrested at least sixty suspects over their alleged connection with the killing of Chief Superintendent of Police, Kazeem Abonde.
The force had earlier vowed to bring to book those involved in the brutal murder of the officer who was attacked in the Ajao Estate area of the state by some commercial motorcycle riders popularly known as Okada riders.
The force men upon arrival in the area reportedly impounded some motorcycles and attempted to effect some arrest.
While some of the riders are said to have fled the scene, others regrouped in their numbers and attacked Abonde and his men.
Reports made available to newsmen revealed that the hoodlums snatched the CSP’s service pistol and shot him with it.
They also vandalized a patrol vehicle, stole three service rifles, injured the Divisional Police Officer, Ajao Estate, CSP Abdullahi Malla, and other operatives.
For the fear of being lynched by the hoodlums, operatives who went on the operation with the senior officer took to their heels. The policemen reportedly fled the scene because they neither had teargas nor anti-riot equipment to disperse the mob at the time of the incident and by the time reinforcement came, the damage was already done.
It was further revealed that while sympathizers were assisting Abode to the hospital, the motorcycle riders went after him and smashed his head with stones and clubs.
A police source who anonymously spoke on the incident said the CSP saw the mob advancing but ordered his men not to fire any shot to prevent extrajudicial killings.
“The bikers visibly displayed cutlasses, bottles, axes, sticks and stones as they charged towards the police team. The mob chased the armed policemen towards the main gate leading to the estate. The policemen who were with the CSP abandoned their patrol vehicle and fled,” the source said.
It added: “The CSP, who was alone at this point, made frantic efforts to calm the irate crowd but they refused to listen. They vandalized the patrol vehicle, disarmed and shot him,” the source said.
In his reaction, Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu said the command would ensure the culprits were brought to book, adding that 60 suspects have been arrested while the investigation continued. He also confirmed that the three service firearms carted away by the hoodlums had been retrieved, while the injured officers were recuperating.
“It is a painful loss. It saddens my heart that an officer was killed in such a cruel manner. We have been investigating the matter and presently, we have 60 suspects in custody,” Odumosu said.
