TheCable

An angry mob in the Iyano-Ipaja area of Lagos state on Wednesday beat Olukunle Olonade, an operative of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) attached to Ikeja, to death after he reportedly opened fire on an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority(LASTMA).

The LASTMA official identified as Rotimi Adeyemi died as a result of the gun attack by Olonade.

The LASTMA official was said to have stopped the motorist who was driving a sport utility vehicle (SUV) for violating traffic rule.

But the SARS operative who was in mufti reportedly got annoyed by the action of Adeyemi, and brought out a gun from his vehicle, shooting the official to death.

Having realised the implication of his action, he attempted to flee but people around caught up with him and beat him to stupor.

Chike Oti, spokesman of the command, confirmed the incident, saying residents who witnessed the incident, thought Olonade was an armed robber and mobbed him.

He said though the SARS operative was rescued by a police team, he died on his way to the hospital.

“On November 28, around 6pm, the driver of a Toyota Highlander SUV, with registration number LSR 277 BJ, later identified as Police Inspector Olukunle Olonade, attached to FSARS Ikeja while driving along Iyana-Ipaja Road, was contravened for driving against traffic by a LASTMA official, one Rotimi Adeyemi, aged 46 years at Iyana-Ipaja Roundabout,” Oti said in a statement.

“The two men vehemently disagreed with each other. However, during the altercation, the said Inspector Olukunle Olonade allegedly shot the LASTMA officer to death.

“Consequently, an irate mob, who thought that the shooter was an armed hoodlum because he was in mufti, descended on him and beat him to stupor.

“Although he was later rescued by teams of policemen drafted to the scene, he later gave up the ghost while being rushed to a hospital for treatment.

“The serial number of the pistol recovered at the scene was checked in the system and it revealed the bearer as Inspector Olukunle Olonade attached to FSARS Ikeja.

“Corpses of the deceased have been evacuated to the morgue for autopsy.

“The CP Lagos has directed that the late Inspector Olakunle Olonade be tried posthumously in orderly room and be recommended for dismissal from the Force.”