Posted by BY BANKOLE ADESHINA on
AN alleged shooting of a trader in Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos brought business activities in the ever-busy area to a standstill yesterday. Trouble reportedly started when one Mr. Ndubuisi Odega, was shot by a policeman, who had come to the market to collect a debt of N12,000 from the victim.
AN alleged shooting of a trader in Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos brought business activities in the ever-busy area to a standstill yesterday. Trouble reportedly started when one Mr. Ndubuisi Odega, was shot by a policeman, who had come to the market to collect a debt of N12,000 from the victim.
Ndubuisi, who deals in fairly used generator sets in the market, was shot about two inches away from his manhood by the Mobile policeman, who was later held hostage by the traders.
The policeman, who simply gave his as Shittu, said the man refused to pay him a balance of N12,000 for a generator set he bought at N30,000 and returned because it was faulty.
He acknowledged that he was paid N18,000 long ago, but had been denied the balance.
He said: "I came to buy a generator set from them (him and his boss) and I discovered the generator was not good. So, I had to return it. Immediately I returned it, they agreed to pay back my money completely. But I have been coming for the balance of N12,000. Today is my fourth time. When I got here and saw the boy going out, I grabbed him, asking for my money. He denied knowing me."
The policeman denied willingly shooting the man. He said that the trader was dragging the gun with him before the trigger off.
"I dragged him to follow me to our office in Obalende Zone II or pay my money. But he refused and started dragging the gun with me before the trigger went off," he said.
The policeman was immediately held by the task force officers in the market. He was thoroughly beaten by the angry traders.
Speaking with The Guardian, Shittu said the shooting was one of the greatest mistakes of his life.
The 27-year-old policeman claimed that he joined the Nigeria Police Force in 2000. He insisted that he could not have deliberately shot the trader, as he was a Christian.
The trader, who is now in hospital, confirmed the business transaction between both of them.
He explained that he was coming from his shop around 12 noon, when he saw the policeman coming after him and demanding his balance of N12,000, which he could not afford at the time.
"I was coming out from my shop to the open space when he grabbed me and started dragging me to follow him to his station in respect of the N12,000 I was owing him. But I begged him to exercise patience. He refused to listen to my pleas. Instead, he began to hit my head with the butt of his gun and the next moment, I found myself in hospital."
According to witnesses, who spoke to The Guardian on conditions of anonymity, they were just doing their normal work when they heard a gunshot and saw their colleague fall down.
Efforts to get the police response to the story proved abortive as District Police Officer and Public Relations Officer of the Ladipo Police Command were said to have left for the scene to rescue the policeman.
When contacted, the Lagos command spokesman, Mr. Olabode Ojajuni, said that he was not aware of the development. He promised to get back to The Guardian once he had the details of the incident.