The Lagos State Police Command has arrest four of its officers who were said to be involved in the killing of two unarmed civilians in Lagos.
The four officers, Inspector Fabiyi Omomayara, Sergeant Olaniyi Solomon, Sergeant Solomon Sunday and Corporal Aliyu Mukaila, who were attached to Iba Division Patrol team were arrested after a video showing how they killed the two suspects went viral.
In the video, the restrained suspects were said to be notorious armed robbers who specialized in luring unsuspecting victims who want to sell their phones through an online platform and subsequently rob them at gunpoint. They were subsequently shot while the camera was still on.
According to Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, the incident happened on Monday, August 19, at about 3.00pm.
Elkana however said, ”Iba Police Station received a distress call from one Anugu Valentine ‘m’ of no 250, Agege Motor Road, Mushin, that he was attacked by a group of armed men numbering about four on two motorcycles at Ipayi area, Iba, and they dispossessed him of one iPhone Max valued at N450, 000.
”Acting on the information, the Divisional Police Officer Iba promptly deployed the Divisional Patrol team to the scene. Two of the armed robbers were arrested while two escaped. Two locally made pistols with six life cartridges and five expended cartridges were recovered. The gang is said to be notorious for series of robberies in Iba and environs.
”It was a well-celebrated operation by the team as the suspects were gallantly arrested. The team however went extreme by killing the suspects who were already in their custody instead of taking them to the Police Station and allowing the normal process of investigation and prosecution to be initiated as stipulated under procedural laws.”
He stated that the extra judicial killings fall short of police professional standards and cannot be condoned by the Command. Hence, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu, has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
He further said the officers are currently subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings known as Orderly Room trial and if found culpable, will be dismissed from the Force and handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department for prosecution in the conventional court.