Lagosians, especially those within Iyana Ipaja area and who are on social media are reacting angrily to the killing of a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) official, Mr. Adeyemo Rotimi, by a man driving a cream coloured SUV alleged to be a police officer attached to the dreaded Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS).
The reckless and unfortunate incident reportedly happened Wednesday November 28 2018 when the police officer allegedly pulled a pistol and fired at Mr. Rotimi who had earlier flagged the FSARS man at an intersection to give others the right of way.
Eye witnesses said that the victim who is popularly known as ‘Baba Ibeji’ had stopped the police inspector who was driving a cream coloured jeep with registration number LSR 277 BJ so he could free the traffic from other routes but the policeman reportedly shunned his directive and zoomed through the traffic in anger. His action reportedly shocked the LASTMA officer who reportedly scolded him.
According to sources, the policeman who felt insulted by Adeyemo’s warning allegedly pulled a pistol and shot Adeyemo in the eye. He reportedly died on the spot.
Sources said that when the police officer realized what had happened, he made an attempt to flee by driving his car through the gathering crowd but was stopped by the mob before causing more damages.
However, policemen from Moshalashi division reportedly rescued the FSARS officer whose name was given as Prince Oki Joseph (police say his name is Olakunle Olonade) from the angry crowd.
A policewoman who didn’t want her name in print confirmed that the FSARS officer was brought to the station but has since been moved to ‘Aguda’.
The LASTMA head of operations in Iyana Ipaja, Mr Dipeolu Folagbade, under whose supervision Adeyemo was posted before his death, confirmed the incident to this reporter. He, however, was hopeful that the authorities would handle the case appropriately.
Sources said that when the policeman’s car was searched for identification, various types of guns were recovered including fake 1,000 naira notes, ATM card, church ID card, business ID card and FSARS documents.
Below are some of the comments of pissed Lagosians to the incident on social media.
Lagos state PDP governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje speaks on the horrible incident via his twitter handle.
See tweets below:
Jimi AgbajeVerified account @jimiagbaje
I was just informed of the untimely death of Adeyemo Rotimi, a dedicated LASTMA official who was killed while carrying out his duties in Lagos State. I send my deepest sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues at LASTMA. May he rest in peace.
Charles Okogene: Sad! What a way to die. May he find peace yonda.
Enny Nwosa: This police officer must pay the supreme price. He should be sent to the fore front to fight and gun down boko haram terrorists.
Olorunyomi Babatunde: Overzealous not only officers head should not only be examined but they should be quarantined. Its not limited to uniform agencies but most people in authority. As the gun of this policeman had made a woman a widow, some children fatherless, so shall his wife and children become widow and fatherless among children.
Kelvin Ekwugha: How did he buy d motor in d first place if not stealing and obtaining by tricks, with his rank he is only supposed to be seen with official guns signed and returned after duty not pistol,is only high ranking officer that supposed to seen with pistol if there is need, he must have been one of d bad eggs in Fsars. The dead is even better than him now,to me,if d story is true please d best thing is to confirm d number of LASTMA’s children and mandate d happy trigger officer to take care of their Education from d present level to d highest level, and handsomely compensate d wife to start a very good business, this is because it has happened, it has happened ,going to jail won’t make any different,
Opara Kycee Longinus: That is when people in the Authority do not obey rule of law what do you get,
President, do not obey rule of law,
Vice will not obey
Ministers will not obey
Governors will not obey
Senators and members of house will not obey.
How will police Army National Guard and other agent obey law.
Laws in Nigeria is only meant for the poor masses.
Nigeria needs to totally overhaul
Mary Parker: These police officers Dem na Dem be the greatest problem we have.
Eazy Lizy: In Yoruba Land, this could be called eedi, asasi, A si she….ogun aye re oooooo����. Ki ijaa aye ma ja wa, ka ma ri Arin fesesi ooooo��
Sunmoila Bunmi: Any law in Nigerian made for poor Nigeria
Emmanuel Okoukwu: What should have warranted this dastardly act if not impunity which is the trade mark of many Nigerians once they are in a position of advantage? LASMA officials do not carry arms for the killer police man to claim that his life was being threatened. He just did it for fun! I pray that he will be brought to justice. May the soul of the victim rest in peace.
Maduka Okechukwu: Very pity to soul that lost I wish justice must be done and lesson to our officers that eat cursed money sometime it cause nemesis
Haruna Zechariah: Civilians y are you people interesting on fabrigating all sort of lies just to give police bad name, please i want fg to please make it compulsory for every family to have a police man, all this type of unfortunate incidences may not be truth. for those who are very good on posting of this type report should please verify before doing that
Olawuwo Abiodun: The man involved should be sentence to death too by firing squad. Case close.
Ohane Paul: D system encourages impunity,,,,
Kingsley Omorogieva: From the date of issue on the Driver’s License being 03/04/2010, it is apparent that he does not even have a valid License to be on the road, as the maximum duration of validity period is five years. Height of impunity.
Rasaki Owolabi: Rubbish country where life’s no longer save
Ernest Chima Chimaco: Zoo country
Pretty Abikeade: So sad
Benneth Joshua: Now the children is now fatherless bcos of his selfless service to his own state
DonBar Dennco: I see Tramadol working here……..
Meanwhile, LASTMA took to their official twitter handle to share the horrible news.
We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our gallant officers, Adeyemo Rotimi, who was murdered in cold blood by suspected FSARS operative while discharging his lawful duties at his point in Iyana Ipaja on the 28th of November, 2018.
