We learnt that the incident happened at about 1am at Warehouse bus stop, along Apapa/Oshodi Expressway. It was alleged that the security team that normally visits the tankers’ park to extort money from the drivers shot the victim in the chest when he failed to remit the agreed sum of N500, which was paid on a daily basis to them.
Some eyewitnesses said the patrol team disappeared from the scene as soon as they realized that the driver was dead.
The incident caused an upheaval and consequent violent protest when some of the drivers reported for duty in the morning to find the lifeless body of their colleague in the pool of his own blood.
The ever-busy expressway was deserted, as men of the Trinity Police Station mounted a checkpoint for fear of mob attack.
Efforts by police to maintain the peace and probably remove his corpse from the expressway, failed as the mob prevented them from doing so. The mob’s resistance forced the police to fire tear gas and shot sporadically into the air to scare the protesters away. But they stood their ground, instead, they responded by throwing stones, bottles and other dangerous weapons at the security personnel. They were also chanting war songs.
The incident worsened the traffic situation in and outside the area, as motorists and other road users were trapped in the gridlock.
A eyewitness who was identified as, Mr. Shola described the incident as unfortunate and wondered why security operatives who are paid to secure the lives of the people are now turning their guns against them.
He said the OP MESA operatives always exploit tanker drivers at the Warehouse area and wondered why that should be so. “The people are always on our neck. They come here almost every day to extort money from us. Could you believe that we pay them for each truck we load here and if we do not have money to pay, they threaten to kill us? Now in this case, Lekan told them that he had no money and promised to give them later. Without any argument, one of them shot him in the chest and he died on the spot. And immediately they saw that he had died, they drove off.”
Shola explained that unless the excesses of the security outfit are checked, it could lead to further waste of lives and property. “I think it is high time the government clipped the wings of these corrupt security operatives in this country. This incident is one out of hundreds that take place in this country, yet nothing is done to check it. Probably, government is waiting until when the people will take laws into their hands.”
Another eyewitness, a company worker within the scene of the incident, also expressed disappointment over the incident, insisting that the killers should be fished out and punished accordingly. “The killers should not be allowed to go scot-free. The senseless shootings of innocent Nigerians by security agents have become a recurring decimal because government has not taken the bull by the horns in checking their excesses.”
Confirming the accident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ngozi Braide said that the information about the incident got to the Trinity Police shortly after the incident through the conductor of the victim’s truck, Saheed Ajala.
She said: “It was one Saheed Ajala that came to report to the Police that his driver had been allegedly shot dead by men of OP MESA at Warehouse bus – stop, Olodi-Apapa, the Police visited the scene and moved the corpse to the nearest mortuary. Meanwhile, investigation is ongoing.”
Meanwhile the Nigeria Navy has declared the officer who allegedly killed the tanker driver in Lagos wanted.
The Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Ovenseri Uwadiae, called on the public to assist in apprehending the fleeing personnel wherever and when ever he is found.
He described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the Navy is investigating to ascertain what led to the killing of the tanker driver.
A statement later issued by the Western Naval Command condemned the incident, adding that the force will not shield the offender if found to be one of them.
The statement, which was signed by Lieutenant Commander William Olabisi, assured that if the suspect is found to be a Naval personnel, he would be made to face the full weight of the law.
“It is important to note that the Nigerian Navy has the reputation of not covering offenders. And this case will not be an exception. We are therefore appealing to the members of the public to exercise restraint and wait for the ongoing investigation being carried out by the Nigerian navy and the Nigerian police,” the statement said.
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