Police patrol van crushes man in Lagos

Police patrol van crushes man in Lagos On April 22, 2013 · In News 9:18 pm Tweet BY EVELYN USMAN LAGOS — A middle-aged man was allegedly crushed to death, Monday, by a patrol van conveying policemen attached to the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Social Offences. The van was chasing a commercial bus driver who contravened traffic rules, in Ikorodu area of Lagos. The team of policemen reportedly stopped the commercial bus driver around Agric bus-stop over an unknown traffic offence. But the later refused to stop, consequent upon which eye witnesses said the policemen chased him in their patrol van at about 9 a.m. Tragedy struck around Oke-Ira in Haruna area after a man simply identified as Baba Peace, said to be waiting to board a bus, was hit by the fleeing driver. In his attempt to get up, eye witnesses said the oncoming police van ran over him, killing him on the spot. The incident caused an uproar as an angry mob attempted to stop the police van. Sensing trouble, eyewitnesses said the police van veered off its lane and drove into Wahab Street, maneouvered its way through Bolaji Benson Street and escaped through Ogbolowu Estate, with the mob still chasing them. This forced the policemen to take refuge in a building in the estate. One of the policemen said to have changed into mufti, reportedly came out of the compound, only to be identified by the mob who waited outside. The policeman, a Corporal, would have been lynched but for the timely arrival of a reinforcement from Area M Command. Meanwhile, at Haruna area, the body of Baba Peace was laid in the middle of the road,with the mob spoiling for showdown. A woman later discovered to be his widow was seen wailing. Policemen from Owutu later arrived and took the body away, while officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA , controlled the resultant traffic. Contacted, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Damasus Ozoani, explained that information available to the Police revealed that the commercial bus driver allegedly crushed the driver as he attempted to scale through the demarcation wall to facilitate his escape. He disclosed that the policemen involved in the chase had been arrested and investigation ongoing.