Lagos DPO shoots officer dead, gets arrested

Yahaya Adesina, a Divisional Police Officer, has been arrested by Lagos State Police Command for allegedly shooting one of the police personnel attached to the station, Sergeant Onajide Onalaja, while dispersing a crowd in the Ilemba Hausa area of the state.

This is just as the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered a probe of the allegation by Onalaja’s family that Adesina shot dead the cop and attempted to conceal the crime.

Initially, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said two fake/deserter soldiers, Kehinde Elijah, 45, and Ezeh Joseph, were arrested in connection with Onalaja’s killing, adding that investigation was ongoing.

However, in a follow-up reaction on Tuesday, Elkana said Odumosu had ordered the Officer-in-Charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Yetunde Longe, to take over the case and conduct a neutral investigation to unravel the true circumstances surrounding Onalaja’s death.

The deceased’s wife, Folasade, had urged the police authorities to relieve the DPO of his duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

In a statement on Thursday, Elkana said Adesina had been arrested and was being detained at the SCIID following reports that he shot the sergeant while dispersing the crowd that gathered in front of the station.

He also stated that Adesina’s rifle had been retrieved, adding that the command had ordered an autopsy to be carried out on Onalaja’s corpse.

Similarly, the command also confirmed the arrest of an inspector attached to the Ikotun Police Division, Charles Okoro, for allegedly shooting dead a cleric, Fatai Oladipupo, in the Obabayi area of Ikotun.

It was gathered that the incident happened on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, around 10.05pm.

Elkana said Okoro had been subjected to orderly room trial, adding that he would be tried in a conventional court if found guilty. He also stated that the CP, while commiserating with the bereaved family, assured them of justice.

The PPRO said, “The Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, arrested Inspector Charles Okoro, attached to the Ikotun Division. The inspector was arrested in connection with a shooting incident reported on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, around 10.05pm in Obabiyi, Igando Road, Ikotun, which led to the death of one Fatai Oladipupo, 28, of the Obabiyi area.

“The inspector is being subjected to orderly room trial at the state Provost Department and if found guilty, he will be handed over to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for prosecution in a conventional court. Investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.”