A tragic incident occurred in the Ipaja area of Lagos State on Wednesday when a young man fell into a canal while allegedly being chased by police officers.
In a post on X.com on Thursday, #Omorhemi, who claimed to be a friend of the victim’s wife, alleged that the police stopped the man on a bike, searched him, and accused him of being a “yahoo boy” due to his tattoos.
She posted videos of the rescue operation and wrote, “My friend’s husband was chased by police yesterday morning until he fell into the canal.” When he began to shout, they grabbed his slippers and the money that had fallen and fled. This happened at federal bus stop, Ipaja Ayobo axis. He is currently unconscious at LASUTH. He is still on oxygen.”
“The officers were on mufti. They stopped him on bike, the bike man left. They searched him, claiming that his tattoos make him a Yahoo boy, and they began teasing that they would shoot him. He started moving away, saying he’s not, and they started following him till he ran,” she added.
On Friday morning, #Omorhemi gave an update that the young died.
“He has given up! Yet to tell the wife as of now. I am not pleased to inform you that this young man died in the middle of the night.
“On Wednesday, a few hours after the incident, the wife went to the police station, Area P, to report. The officers told her they were the ones that pushed him. She couldn’t wait and wasn’t stable while still trying to get the husband to receive the best treatment. All hands have been on deck to make sure the man survived, which was why follow-up at the station was not done,” she wrote.
A different version of the incident was given by Lagos State Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin in a statement on Friday night. According to him, the man saw the police coming and fled into the canal, rather than the police pursuing him or interacting with him.
Hundeyin wrote, “The police visited the scene and met eyewitnesses on ground who voluntarily gave their statements regarding the unfortunate incident.
“At about 10 am on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, somewhere around Gowon Estate, the young man was a passenger on a motorcycle riding against traffic.
