Posted by By Albert Akpor on
TWO senior police officers in Ikeja were yesterday quizzed by the Acting Commissioner of Police Mr. John Haruna over the mysterious escaped of over 18 suspected armed robbers from the Command's cell.
LAGOS - TWO senior police officers in Ikeja were yesterday quizzed by the Acting Commissioner of Police Mr. John Haruna over the mysterious escaped of over 18 suspected armed robbers from the Command's cell.
Sources said the action of the Acting Lagos CP followed stern orders from the Inspector-General of Police Mr. Sunday Ehindero yesterday that an in-depth probe into the circumstances that led to the escape of the 18 suspects be conducted.
This came on a day a police officer shot and wounded a teenager who was playing football with his mates in an open field somewhere in Ikotun Egbe, a suburb in Lagos. Already, sources said the Crime Recording Officer (CRO) of Ikeja Division an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and six others who were on duty on the day the suspects escaped from detention have been detained are currently undergoing interrogation.
The escape Sunday, sources hinted further was giving police high command sleepless nights as efforts were being geared towards locating the fleeing criminals.
Meanwhile, DCP Haruna was said to have held a marathon closed door meeting with his operations officers adding that a matching order had been issued out to the officers to comb the nooks and crannies of the state.
Contacted for comments on the circumstances that led to the escaped of the suspects from the cell, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olabode Ojajuni said he was not competent to react to the issue adding that only a 'higher authority" can do that.
Frantic attempt to get the reaction of DCP Haruna was not successful either as curious newsmen who waited for hours for the purpose were later booed out of his office.
Meanwhile, the shooting incident at Ikotun Egbe sources said followed a false alarm that some Areaboys were converging on the open playground to forment trouble.
A detachment of anti-riot policemen from Ikotun Division were drafted to the scene when a trigger-happy Sergeant identified as Lukman Showemimo released volleys of bullet and in the process, a teenager whose identities were yet to be ascertained was hit by one of the stray bullets.
The erring Sergeant sources said, continued his indiscriminate firing after he sensed that angry youths were approaching. The police however succeeded in shooting their way out of the troubled zone.
Meanwhile, the injured lad had since been to an undisclosed hospital where Doctor's are presently battling to extract bullets lodged in his body. Attempt to get the reaction of the state's police image maker Mr. Ojajuni equally failed as he was said to be out for official assignment But a source close Ikotun Division said the Sergeant had been detained while investigation continues.