Commercial motorcycle operators, commonly called Okada riders have been accused of killing a police officer in Lagos state.
According to reports, the incident happened on Wednesday, April 5th near Cele Bus Stop along the Apapa-Oshodi expressway.
A motorcyclist, Rasheed claimed the policeman had shot at one of his colleagues, but the bullet did not penetrate.
The targeted okada rider then allegedly retaliated by macheting the security personnel.
Rasheed said: “For a long time, police have been disturbing okada riders on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. So today (Wednesday), some policemen took area boys with them to assist in chasing the bike men.
“Some of the okada riders resisted and fought with the area boys in anger, while carrying cutlasses which led to the police officer sporadically shooting at the motorcyclists. When the bullet failed to penetrate, one of the okada riders allegedly used a machete to attack the police officer.”
Police public relations officer for the Lagos State Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the unfortunate incident.
The okada riders were said to have dispossessed three police officers of their firearms in the process of assault.
Hundeyin, however, said he had not yet received information about the what happened as at presstime.
An eyewitness said the police officer’s body was by the side of the road and there were no less than five patrol vehicles with armed police officers pursuing the okada riders down the freeway near Second Rainbow/Mile 2.
The riders were also seen brandishing objects like cutlasses, sticks and iron rods as they fled from police arrest.