A Man O’War officer attached to a security post in Ikate Roundabout in the Lekki area of Lagos State, Ibrahim Busari, has been beaten up by some commercial motorcyclists (popularly called okadariders), who reportedly abducted him.
It was learnt that Busari and his colleagues were controlling traffic caused by an accident in the area when they seized a motorcycle from one Mohammed Mukaila, for allegedly riding against the traffic (popularly called one-way).
It was gathered that the motorcycle belonged to one Ahmed Saleh.The operatives were said to have taken the impounded motorcycle to their office.
Our correspondent gathered that a few minutes later, Saleh went to the operatives’ security post in the area to demand the release of the motorcycle.
He was reportedly joined by Mukaila and some okada riders in the area, who allegedly resorted to violence when the security men refused to release the motorcycle.
In the ensuing scuffle, one Gbemi Oyebowole was stabbed in the eye region while Busari was reportedly abducted by the motorcyclists to their park, where he was beaten up.
He was said to have been rescued by some policemen on a patrol, while two of his suspected attackers were later arrested by men attached to the Maroko Police Division.
Busari, 25, said, the mob dispossessed him of N8,000 during the assault.
He said,
“I was on duty along with three others that day. There was an accident and we were trying to clear the gridlock caused by the accident when we saw an okada rider riding against the traffic. Theokada was impounded.
“Some minutes after the motorcycle was seized, okada riders from the Lekki area came to our office and attacked us. They later took me to their park, collected the N8,000 on me and beat me seriously. They said they would not allow me to go unless my colleagues released the motorcycle. Some policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad later came to rescue me from them
Oyebowale told the police that he was injured by the riders while attempting to rescue his colleague, Busari, from them.
However, the suspects ─ Mukaila and Saleh ─ denied involvement in the abduction of the operatives. An axe and items suspected to be charms were said to have been recovered from Saleh.
Twenty-two-year-old Mukaila, in his statement, said,
“I was coming from Jakande around 1.40pm on July 25. On getting to Ikate Roundabout, there was traffic. My motorcycle was seized and taken to the Man O’War’s office in the area. I called my brother, Saleh, who owns the okada. I was not the person that rode against the traffic.
“While the officers were still talking to me, their patrol vehicle came and they took the motorcycle away. As we were arguing with them, a fight started. My brother and I were not part of those who fought them.”
A police prosecutor, Inspector Ignatius Okeke, brought the suspects before a magistrate’s court on the Lagos Island on six counts of stealing and assault.
Punch
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