Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos have reportedly killed one Promise Tochukwu, a motor mechanic.
A report monitored by Naija News on Punch Metro alleged that the young man who is popularly known as Daddy was shot dead by a yet-to-be-identified police officer on Opaleye Bridge, around Okoya Street, in the Ifelodun Local Council Development Area of the state.
While there are many controversies over the killing of the young man, a source who spoke on the incident claimed that it happened on Monday morning.
Narrating the incident, the source who identified herself as Esther, told reporters that chaos had started in the area after a man brutalized his girlfriend during an argument that degenerated into a serious fight.
She noted that the security operatives, who were mobilized to the scene by the lady, shot the mechanic dead.
The resident explained that 17-year-old Promise was on his way home when he was struck by bullets fired by a policeman in the team.
She said, “The incident happened on Monday morning; I had gone to drop my children at school and was on my way to the shop to pick something when I saw a girl bleeding profusely close to the Opaleye Bridge. People said the girl’s boyfriend was responsible for her injuries and that she called security operatives to arrest him.
“When they got to the place, they took over the area; but the boyfriend was nowhere to be found. As I saw the soldiers and policemen, I stood back. But Promise, who was unaware of the situation, came out of the boundary area to connect to his grandma’s residence.
“As the operatives saw him, they asked him to stop. When they observed that he was moving back as if he wanted to run, they shot him. It was a policeman in the team that shot him on the bridge. I went to inform his family.”
Meanwhile, a relative of the victim identified simply as Agnes explained that Promise was taken to a traditional centre where two bullets shot by the police were extracted from his body.
She added that her brother died while being rushed to the Orege General Hospital for further treatment.
Agnes said, “I was at my mother’s place when Esther rushed in to inform us that Promise had been shot. I quickly stood up, rushed to the scene and saw OP MESA operatives driving away. I was shocked as I saw Promise lying on the ground in a pool of blood. He kept shouting that his chest was paining him and I saw that his left leg had been hit.
“I stopped a vehicle and we rushed him to a man’s place where two bullets were extracted from his body. After the man was done, we were on our way to the Orege General Hospital for treatment when he died.
“The operatives were saying he was mistakenly shot, but we could not do a further investigation as we were all after saving his life till he died.”
Confirming the incident, a community leader who also pleaded to remain anonymous, said Promise was shot by policemen detailed to arrest hoodlums ms involved in a street fight.
The elderly man explained that the fight had been ongoing for five days, adding that Promise was shot after a vigilante pointed at him.
He said, “The street fight involved hoodlums from Okoya, Ezeago and Ayetoro streets. The area boys were fighting over a girl and also because of the amount they usually collect at illegal tollgates in the areas.
“Policemen and vigilantes usually carry out regular raids and at times, they invite the OP MESA to support them. On that day, Promise was on his way home when one of the vigilantes fingered him to the police and he was shot in the leg.
“After shooting him, they abandoned him and left. He died after the attack, but the police and the vigilantes have denied shooting him. Luckily for the family, they have extracted the bullets. The case was reported at the Layeni Police Station.”
Lamenting the gruesome killing of her son, Promise’s mother, Bose, demanded, justice, said her son died after losing a lot of blood.
She urged the state government and the police to probe the circumstances surrounding the death.
“I was at home when my sister informed me that Promise was shot and I was asked to send money for his treatment. I sent N15,000, but a few minutes later, my sister informed me that he had died. I didn’t believe it at first until I heard from another person. He has been buried,” she added.
The narrative was, however, different when the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu was contacted.
Ajisebutu said, “No policeman shot anybody to the best of my knowledge. We have yet to receive a report of the incident. However, we will investigate it accordingly and do the needful.”