Motorcyclists protest as police deny killing three

Motorcycle riders in the Ishashi, Iba Local Council Development Area of Lagos, on Saturday protested the killing of their members by the police.

But the police authorities denied having a hand in the incident.

Three motorcyclists were reportedly killed on Friday morning after a clash between the riders and some policemen attached to the Ishashi Police Division.

Our correspondent learnt that the police had raided a spot in the area that morning and were seizing motorcycles when the okada riders resisted them.

The police, who were outnumbered by the rampaging riders, reportedly shot into the air to disperse the crowd.

Three people were said to have been killed by stray bullets, while two others sustained injuries.

One of the dead victims, identified only as Laide, was said to have left behind a pregnant fiancée.

The Chairman of the Motorcycle Riders Association, Giwa Gafal, alleged that the police was in the habit of extorting money from the riders.

He said, “We usually give money to the police ─ every Friday, from the Divisional Police Officer to the patrol team ─ we have not defaulted in settling them.

“I was therefore surprised when they came on Friday morning and started seizing our motorcycles. When I called their boss, he said they did not come for settlement, but to deal with us. They shot our members, killing two and injuring another two. When we went to protest at the police station, they started shooting at us again, this time, injuring three more people.

“One of the injured persons later died, bringing the number of our dead members to three.”

Gafal asked the government to investigate the killing of the motorcyclists.

PUNCH Metro visited one of the injured victims, Sunday Okoro, at the hospital where he was receiving treatment for gunshot injuries.

He said, “It is not fair that the police claimed that I was an armed robber despite the fact that they were the ones responsible for my ordeal. It took the intervention of our union officials to be able to get the police clearance to receive treatment.”

The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Lelma Kolle, however, denied that policemen killed any of the riders.

He said, “Early Friday morning, the police decided to raid a black spot that had become notorious for crime in the area.

“The police met some okada riders who thought the police came for them. They started throwing stones at the police and even poured acid on the officer that led the patrol.

“The police were able to disperse them with teargas. But the protesters mobilised and went to the station where they threatened to burn it down.

“Having been overwhelmed, the police decided to disperse the crowd and shots were fired. Two of them were shot in the leg and they are currently on admission at a hospital.”

Kolle told PUNCH Metro that the victim who died from the clash was not shot by the police, adding that he died during a confusion among the okada riders.

“We have examined the corpse and there was no mark of gunshot on his body. So, the police did not kill him and this can be confirmed,” he added.