A 33-year-old man, Victor Ebhomenyen, was arrested on Saturday, April 17, 2021, by the Lagos State Police Command, for allegedly driving against the traffic, as well as assaulting and causing bodily injuries on an Assitant Superintendent of Police, Erhator Sunday, at Four Point Hotel, Oniru, Victoria Island.
Disclosing this in a statement on Sunday, April 18, the police image-maker in the state, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that the police command deemed it necessary to react and set the record straight on the incident that was captured in a video recording which went viral on the social media on the day it occurred.
The PPRO stated that in the video recording, two men were seen repeatedly assaulting an officer on duty and creating a scene on the road.
Setting the record straight, Adejobi said that on Saturday, at about 10:30am, ASP Sunday and team members attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Command, were in a convoy to drop off policemen at their various beats across the state.
He went further that they blocked and stopped a white Hyundai SUV, with registration number MUS 251 EH, driven by the suspect, Ebhomenyen, against traffic, while facing the convoy.
“When the police stopped the vehicle, the occupants, (Victor) Ebhomenyen and Etinosa Obaywana, angrily came down, confronted and violently assaulted ASP Erhator Sunday, inflicting severe bodily injuries on him.
“The officer, who was armed with his official AK-47 rifle, displayed a high level of professionalism amidst fierce provocation by resisting the temptation of using his rifle on the suspect.”
He added that the prime suspect was in police custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for investigation and prosecution, while effort had been on to arrest his fleeing accomplice, Obaywana, who had been identified.
He stated: “According to the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, the vehicle has been impounded and taken to the Lagos State Task Force Office, Oshodi, for appropriate penalty.”
Commending the police personnel for their act of maturity, self control, perseverance and professionalism in managing the drama created by the suspect, the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, applauded tactical enforcement of law and order without any infringement on the suspect’s or any person’s human rights during the saga.
Odumosu advised police personnel in the command to emulate the act displayed by the assaulted officer and his colleagues, despite series of provocation exhibited by the suspects and his fleeing accomplice at the scene.
The state police boss however warned against any violence or attack on the police and other security operatives in the state, saying that such would be professionally resisted, while erring individuals would be dealt with according to the provisions of the law.
