A yam cake (Ojojo) trader was yesterday killed by stray bullet allegedly shot by officers from Olosan Police Station.
The late Kudirat Adebayo, a mother of four, was murdered near the toll gate in Mushin.
The incident occurred around 6pm at Ogunmokun/Toll gate area, Mushin, Lagos.
The woman’s death led to fracas between the street boys and the officers.
Many scampered for safety as police shot sporadically to disperse the street boys protesting the woman’s death.
They stormed the police station on motorcycles.
The Nation learnt that the officers were chasing a ‘Yahoo yahoo’ guy who ran through Ogunmokun/Toll gate areas on motorcycle and heading towards Onipanu.
Policemen were said to have shot at him when it was impossible for them to nab him, but the bullet hit a woman selling yam cake (Ojojo) around Toll gate area.
Angered by the officers’ action, the boys mobilised themselves and headed to the Olosan Police Station.
Eyewitnesses said they were chased away with gun shots. About five of them were said to have sustained injuries.
An eyewitness Seun Ojo said: “The boys regrouped and armed with broken bottles and headed back to the station to demand justice for the slain trader. Before they got to the station, the officers have called for reinforcement, who helped repelled the boys. Eight of them were arrested. They were seen at the station on kneels and raising their hands. Those injured were taken away for treatment.”
Another eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Segun said the officers took the body of the slain woman away.
“I don’t know where they (officers) took the body of the woman to. But they headed toward their station,” he said.
According to him, the whole of Ogunmokun, Post Office Road, Toll gate, Onipanu, Abiodun Junction and Kumuyi areas are no go area as traders hurriedly lock their shops and residents went indoor.
An Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) has been stationed on the Post Office Road as officers moving round the areas.
The deceased’s elder sister Nimota Adebayo told The Nation last night that her sister’s remains have been deposited at Isolo General Hospital mortuary.
“She was sitting with her goods and I was beside her. Immediately I entered the shop and came out, I heard gun shots. Bullet hit her head and she died instantly. The two policemen that shot are Prince and Charles. She sells Ojojo. It is not that she interfered or left her shop. Immediately the officers fled our area and shot at the people who followed them. One of them is a guy called Sabina who challenged them was shot at leg. He was rushed to hospital. The deceased body has been taken to Isolo Mortuary. We were just together discussing her make-up and teasing her about whether there was an event today. She is about 50 years.”