The Lagos State Police Command has issued a clarification, denying any involvement in the tragic death of an unidentified man who reportedly fell into a canal and died thereafter while trying to evade arrest in the Ipaja area.
The police emphasized that their officers neither chased, spoke to, nor touched the man before he fell into the water.
Initial reports suggested that plainclothes policemen had pursued the man, allegedly targeting him because of his tattoos, which they believed linked him to internet fraud activities.
Eyewitnesses shared accounts of the incident, with one X user, Omorhemi, recounting how the man was stopped by police while riding on a motorcycle.
According to Omorhemi, the motorcyclist fled, leaving the man behind to face the officers, who allegedly began questioning him based on his tattoos.
“The officers were in plain clothes. They stopped him while he was on a bike, and the rider took off. They searched him, accusing him of being a Yahoo boy because of his tattoos. They even cocked their guns, threatening to shoot him. He insisted he wasn’t involved in fraud and began walking away, but they followed him until he ran,” Omorhemi tweeted.
Responding to these claims,, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, released an official statement on X to provide the police’s version of events.
He explained that the situation was misinterpreted and gave a detailed account of what transpired.
“A friend of the deceased’s wife posted several tweets, explaining the circumstances leading to the man’s death,” Hundeyin noted. “Police officers visited the scene and spoke to multiple eyewitnesses who confirmed what actually happened.”
According to Hundeyin, the incident occurred on the morning of Wednesday, October 16, 2024, near Gowon Estate.
The man was a passenger on a motorcycle that was driving against traffic when they noticed a police vehicle approaching. In response, the motorcyclist abruptly turned around, causing the passenger to panic.
The man jumped off the bike and ran across the road, heading into a nearby tipper garage.
“Eyewitnesses at the garage saw the man running frantically and emptying his pockets, appearing extremely distressed. They warned him about the nearby canal, but despite their warnings, he continued running and ultimately jumped into the water. The police, having exited their vehicle after witnessing his actions, were informed by bystanders that he had entered the canal. After waiting for some time without seeing any sign of him, the officers left, assuming he had escaped,” Hundeyin stated.
“The officers never interacted with him, nor did they pursue or touch him. It was simply their presence that led to his unfortunate reaction,” the PPRO clarified.
He also expressed his condolences, saying, “May God grant his family the strength to endure this heartbreaking loss. Amen.”
Hundeyin went on to identify the specific location of the incident for those who may wish to verify the story, pointing to the “Water Tipper Garage, Mosan-Okunola, Ipaja.”
He concluded by assuring the public that under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Olanrewaju Ishola, the Lagos State Police Command remains steadfast in maintaining professional standards and will not tolerate any form of misconduct from its officers.
