Eyewitness: How police stray bullet killed two in Lagos community

Policeman

Two motorcycle passengers were killed by a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer during a stop-and-search operation along the Lagos–Ogun boundary on Old Ota Road on Friday, an eyewitness has told PUNCH Metro.

The witness, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident, said the shooting occurred at about 5 p.m. when officers had flagged down a vehicle that allegedly refused to stop. One of the officers reportedly fired a shot in the direction of the fleeing vehicle, which struck the two motorcycle passengers.

“I was watching from afar; the incident happened opposite my house. The police were conducting a stop-and-search when a vehicle did not stop. One of the officers fired a shot, but the bullet hit two people riding on a motorcycle. The situation became tense, and the intervention of some military personnel and a monarch prevented it from escalating,” the eyewitness said.

Residents have reportedly remained anxious since the incident, fearing reprisals against the police. “One of the victims was said to be a civil servant. Since Friday, the area has been tense as people are cautious about their movements,” the witness added.In response, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed that the officers involved had been arrested. She said the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, had ordered a thorough investigation and assured residents that justice would be served. Punch