Policeman kills Tanker driver in Lagos

There was pandemonium yesterday at Trinity area of Apapa, Lagos when a policeman attached to the Federal Anti Robbery Squad ( FSARS ) of the Lagos State Police Command shot dead a tanker driver.

Trouble started when the policeman allegedly demanded for a toll of N1000 from the tanker driver who said he could only afford N500.

It was gathered that the refusal of the driver did not go down well with the policeman who shot him.

It was gathered further that the deceased colleagues attempted to lynch the policeman , but he was rescued by his colleagues who fired sporadically to scare away the drivers and conductors .
The trigger happy policeman was rescued from the angry crowd that had formed ring around the area.

It was gathered that the tanker drivers took to the street protesting the death of their colleague.

The protesting drivers and conductors barricaded the Mile 2 / Apapa with their trucks causing heavy gridlock.

Also, the protesters burnt used tyres on the road forcing shop owners and other businessmen to close shops.

Street urchins popularly known as area boys used the opportunity to rob motorists and commuters .

A tanker driver, Danladi Usman, said that security agencies were exorting and intimidating drivers and that the extortion was becoming too much on them.

“We pay N1000 to police, N3000 to Navy. We pay officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASMA), Local Government officials and above all to area boys. The extortion is becoming too much burden to us. If we don’t have money to pay, they make us pay with our lives. Is it a crime to be a truck driver” he said.

Another driver, Shehu Adamu, said that the killing of truck drivers by security operatives was becoming one too many and that was why they were protesting to call the goverment‘s attention their plight.

It was learnt that the driver was shot dead by a policeman attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) posted to Ajegunle to tackle traffic robbers along the Mile 2- Apapa axis.

When contacted, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer ( PPRO), Chike Oti, said that information about the issue was still sketchy.

He said: “There was a crisis in the area and we heard that someone died . The Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, has directed for a full scale investigation into the matter and at the end of the investigation anyone found culpable will be made to face the wrath of the Law. However, the out come of the investigation will be made known to the members of the public.”