Police stray bullet kills nine-year-old in Lagos

A policeman on duty has allegedly shot and killed a nine-year-old boy, Timileyin Ebun, in Mile 12 area of Lagos State.

Our correspondent learnt that the incident occurred while a team of policemen was attempting to arrest a commercial bus driver around 11 pm on Thursday.

According to the spokesperson for the family, Mr. Francis Ogunbowale, the deceased was in a Nissan Pathfinder with his family members when the incident occurred.

Ogunbowale told us that the family had gone to pick up one of their sons, Babajide, at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja and were on their way home at Ikorodu when the tragic incident occurred.

Ogunbowale said, “Babajide schools in Canada. The family had gone to pick him up from the airport but on their way home, Timileyin was shot and killed.

“The matter has been reported and we have seen the Commissioner of Police.”

Police sources told our correspondent that the policeman had been arrested and transferred to the Police X Squad.

A policeman, who preferred not to be named, said, “Around 11 pm on Thursday, one Ebun Olusegun went to Ketu Police Division with his dead son.

“He said he was coming from the airport in his vehicle with registration number, HD 844 EKY but on getting to Kosofe Bus Stop around the Mile 12 Market, a bullet killed his son sitting at the back seat.

“The policemen were brought to the station and one Sergeant Alowonle Razaq, with force number 203693, was identified as the shooter. He has been arrested investigations are ongoing.”

The source said preliminary investigation revealed that the policeman fired two shots while trying to disperse hoodlums who were preventing the arrest of their colleague.

The deceased’s mother, who is said to be a senior employee of LASACO Assurance Ltd., could not be reached as her telephone remained switched off as at press time.

Also, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, did not answer calls made to her telephone.