SARS operative killed by mob following LASTMA man’s death – Officials

The officer of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) who allegedly killed an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adeyemo Rotimi in Lagos on Wednesday has been killed by a mob, an official said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported on Thursday how Mr. Rotimi was allegedly murdered at Iyana-Ipaja around 6 pm on Wednesday while flagging the police down during traffic.

Reacting to the incident, the head of Police Public Complaint Commission, Yomi Shogunle took to his Twitter some minutes, after PREMIUM TIMES’ report, to announce that the inspector who shot the LASTMA officer was beaten to stupor and died while being rushed to a hospital.

According to Mr Shogunle, “The Inspector that allegedly shot dead Late Rotimi Adeyemo ‘m’ at Iyana-Ipaja Roundabout, Lagos at 6pm of 28.11.2018 was beaten to stupor by irate mob at the scene. This policeman also died while being rushed to the hospital.”

He added: “Both corpses have been deposited at Mainland General Hospital morgue, Lagos for an autopsy, RIP. The name of the policeman is withheld because his NoK is yet to be notified by NPF. State CID Panti Yaba, Lagos is investigating the circumstances surrounding this double-murder case.”

While the Mr. Shogunle did not disclose the identity of the officer, the Lagos State Police Spokesman Chike Oti in a statement identified him as Olukunle Olonode.

Mr Oti’s statement reads: “On November 28, around 6pm, the driver of a Toyota Highlander SUV, with registration number LSR 277 BJ, later identified as Police Inspector Olukunle Olonade, attached to FSARS Ikeja while driving along Iyana-Ipaja Road, was contravened for driving against traffic by a LASTMA official, one Rotimi Adeyemi, aged 46 years at Iyana-Ipaja Roundabout.

“The two men vehemently disagreed with each other. However, during the altercation, the said Inspector Olukunle Olonade allegedly shot the LASTMA officer to death.

“Consequently, irate mob, who thought that the shooter was an armed hoodlum because he was in mufti, descended on him and beat him to stupor.

“Although he was later rescued by teams of policemen drafted to the scene, he later gave up the ghost while being rushed to a hospital for treatment.

“The serial number of the pistol recovered at the scene was checked in the system and it revealed the bearer as Inspector Olukunle Olonade attached to FSARS Ikeja.

“Corpses of the deceased have been evacuated to the morgue for autopsy.

“The CP Lagos has directed that the late Inspector Olakunle Olonade be tried posthumously in orderly room and be recommended for dismissal from the Force.”

CAMPUS REPORTER had reported several cases of harassment and extortion perpetrated by SARS operatives.

Many Nigerians have also called for the disbandment of the unit with a Twitter hashtag #EndSARS.

This was addressed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in August, directing the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to review the operations of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Apart from calling for the review of SARS operations, Mr Osinbajo also asked the human right council, NHRC, to investigate various allegations of rights abuses by the police unit.