The Lagos State Police Command has commenced
investigations into the killing of a police corporal,
Ado Ayuba, who was lynched by some hoodlums
in Suru Alaba area of the state. (Above pic: not
the police officer killed)
According to the police, the victim was beaten to
death by an irate mob for allegedly killing a
trader, Mustapha Mohammed, on July 30, 2013.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Ayuba and another
policeman were deployed to the scene to chase away
traders who had illegally taken over a portion of the
Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
It was learnt that trading activities by the traders
usually caused gridlock in the area. It was also learnt
that some residents and motorists had complained to
relevant authorities about the inconveniences caused
by the traders. It was said that a construction
company working on the road had also made appeal
to the government to check the traders.
A senior policeman, who spoke to our correspondent
on the condition of anonymity, said, "Ayuba and the
policeman were posted to the area to chase away
traders who had taken over that portion of the road.
The road is under construction by Chinese
Construction Engineering Company and the company
had complained that its makeshift construction site
was being hijacked by traders.
"On the day of the incident, Ayuba and another
policeman were dispersing the traders when things
went wrong.
"We were told that the traders overpowered the
policemen and in an attempt to protect himself and
his colleague, Ayuba opened fire into the crowd and
killed a trader (Mohammed).
"Ayuba's colleague immediately fled, leaving him
alone with the hoodlums. The hoodlums seized
Ayuba's gun from him, picked up stones and sticks
and beat him up without mercy.
"Some soldiers arrived at the scene and attempted to
rescue the policeman. But the soldiers were greatly
outnumbered by the uncontrollable mob, which
overpowered them and chased them away."
Our correspondent learnt that by the time the police
back-up arrived and managed to disperse the mob,
Ayuba was unconscious from the beatings he had
received.
The policemen were said to have rushed Ayuba and
Mohammed to the hospital where they were
confirmed dead.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi
Braide, told our correspondent that the matter had
been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation
Department, Yaba.
She said, "The matter is under investigation at the
SCID. Investigations will reveal what happened."
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