Police sergeant arrested for murder in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and detained a police sergeant, Matthew Oche, for allegedly pushing a motorist to death at a motor park in the Iddo area of Oyingbo. Our correspondent gathered that the motorist, Francis Ogbole, was travelling to Benue State with some of his family members to attend a public function when he was stopped by a team of policemen. Francis was said to have been stopped at a checkpoint mounted near the Iddo motor park.

The Victim

Our correspondent learnt that on Wednesday, at about 5am, Francis, who was reportedly travelling with three of his children in a private car to Benue State for a burial, was asked by the policemen to produce all his vehicle’s documents, which he did.

PUNCH Metro gathered that one of the policemen,  Oche with force number 372727, allegedly further demanded why the victim’s rear windscreen was tinted. This was said to have led to an altercation.

Our correspondent was told that Francis was allegedly pushed by the sergeant and he fell, injuring his head in the process. The policemen were said to have fled from the checkpoint after the victim died.

One of the deceased’s children, who identified himself as Ebonyi Ogbole, wrote on his Instagram page that Francis was pushed to death after the sergeant allegedly demanded a bribe. He added that he was manhandled and pushed into a gutter by the sergeant.

He said, “Daddy was travelling to Benue State for the burial of his younger sister. On his way to the Iddo motor park, Oyingbo, he was stopped by a team of policemen for a search.

“Dad and three children were in the car. The policemen were in a metro police van with number plate KSF 176 EE. The policemen requested all the necessary papers and dad gave them.

“While he was about to enter his car, a policeman, Sergeant Oche, said my father could not enter his car. He said the rear glass of his car was tinted.

“Dad, however, told him that it was because it was still early morning and that his glass was not tinted. The policemen were just looking for a way to extort him. Out of anger, one of them – the sergeant – pushed him. That was how he fell and injured his head. He died minutes later.”

A police source said the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, ordered the detention of the sergeant, adding that he could be dismissed from the force before being charged to court.

Our correspondent gathered that Oche had been detained at the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed Oche’s arrest.

She said, “He is being detained at the SDCI, Yaba. He is being investigated. He will be prosecuted soon.”