The Police Command in Lagos State has apprehended a 20-year-old driver who allegedly knocked down and dragged a police officer for several metres during a traffic stop, resulting in the officer’s death.
Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Fatai Tijani, disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen at the command headquarters.
Tijani said the incident occurred on August 26 when police officers were conducting stop-and-search duties on the road.
He said the driver initially stopped after being flagged down by the officers but suddenly drove off, knocking down one of the policemen.
“The officer was knocked down and dragged underneath the vehicle for several metres,” he said.
The CP said other police officers pursued the vehicle and eventually arrested the driver.
He said the injured officer sustained multiple fractures and serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital before being referred to another medical facility.
Tijani said that the deceased officer, a police sergeant, however, died from his injuries while receiving treatment.
He said the remains of the deceased had been deposited at a mortuary, while the vehicle involved in the incident had been recovered to the police station for investigation.
The commissioner described the incident as unfortunate, stressing that police officers were deployed on the roads to protect lives and property and prevent crime.
He said stop-and-search operations remained an important aspect of conventional policing and complemented intelligence-led operations aimed at preventing and detecting crime.
The police boss expressed concern over the hostility sometimes faced by police officers while performing their duties.
He said police visibility remained important to public safety, urging members of the public to cooperate with officers deployed to the roads.
The CP appealed to motorists to comply with lawful instructions from police officers during stop-and-search operations rather than attempting to evade them.
He, however, advised members of the public who witnessed police misconduct to report such officers through appropriate channels instead of obstructing officers performing their duties.
Tijani called for mutual respect and cooperation between the police and members of the public, stressing that effective crime prevention required community support.
