Four ‘killer-policemen’ who allegedly snuffed lives out of two suspected armed robbers in Ojo area of Lagos stand the risk of being dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and handed to the State Criminal Investigation Department ( SCID), Panti, Yaba, for prosecution.
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They include Fabiyi Omomayara ( Inspector), Olaniyi Solomon ( Sergeant), Solomon Sunday (Sergeant) and Aliyu Mukaila ( Corporal) all attached to Iba division police patrol team at the time of committing the crime.
The arrest of the policemen followed a video which went viral on the social, showing how they shot dead the suspected criminals after arresting them.
Spokesperson of the Lagos police command, Bala Elkana, who confirmed the incident, said the policemen would face murder charges for allegedly killing suspected armed robbers in their custody.
“Attention of Lagos police command was drawn to a video on social media showing some police officers shooting two unarmed suspects who were arrested and already in their custody against the code of professional conduct and laws guiding how suspects in police custody should be treated.”
Elkana explained that the incident happened on August 8 at 3.00pm, when Iba police station received a distress call from one Anugu Valentine 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 ( DPO) of 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,” he said.
Elkana added that the gang was 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 to the 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.
“That act of extra judicial killings falls short of police professional standards and cannot be condoned by the command,” he said.
The following the incident, the the Commissioner of Police in charge of Lagos, Zubairu Muazu ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
“The police officers are currently being subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings known as `orderly room’ trial and if found culpable, they will be dismissed and handed over SCID for prosecution in the court.
“Members of the public will be updated on the outcome of the investigation and trial,” Elkana said.
