Police releases statement, denies killing cleaner

The Lagos State Police Command has denied killing a cleaner, simply identified as Francis. The incident allegedly happened this morning at Illupeji, with residents of the area accusing SARS operatives of shooting the cleaner to death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, however says the victim was hit by a stray bullet fired by suspected robbers during an encounter between the gunmen and officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

The statement was titled, ‘One hit by stray bullet during an encounter between SARS operatives and notorious armed robbers/cultists in Lagos.’

He said, “On July 15, 2019 around 7:30 a.m., SARS operatives led by Inspector Mohammed Akeem, while being led by a notorious gang leader, Ikechukwu Monye, 39-years-old, to where their arms were kept, were ambushed by members of the gang along Ajisegiri Street, Ilupeju.

“The assailants shot indiscriminately and in the process killed a middle-aged man who was passing by.

“Reinforcement was quickly drafted to the scene. The whole area has been cordoned off with a view to apprehending members of the gang and bring them to justice,” Elkana said in the statement.