By Dipo Olowookere
Three policemen serving under the Lagos Police Command have been shown the way out of the service.
The three affected rank and file cops are Sergeant Osaseri Saturday with service number 25759, Sergeant Segun Okun with service number 35 9075, and Corporal Adekunle Oluwarotimi of service number 496833.
A statement issued on Saturday by Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, disclosed that the policemen were dismissed by the state Commissioner, Mr Edgal Imohimi, for breaching the rules of engagement to wit reckless application of firearms.
Before their dismissal, the trio were attached to Amukoko Division of the Nigeria Police in the metropolis.
The statement issued by the police said the cops committed the offence on the January 11, 2018, at about 9:30pm at Ifelodun street, Amukoko, Lagos state when they disproportionately responded with bullets fired from their weapons at some youths alleged to have hurled some non-ballistic missiles at them such as stones, sticks and bottles, leading to the death of one of the youths and injury on another.
“The general public are hereby informed that three policemen attached to Amukoko Division by names and service numbers: 25759 Sgt. Osaseri Saturday, 35 9075 Sgt. Segun Okun, 496833 Cpl. Adekunle Oluwarotimi have been tried and dismissed from the Nigeria Police for breeching the rules of engagement to wit reckless application of firearms.
“The aforementioned Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs), committed the offence on the 11/01/2018, at about 2130 hours, at Ifelodun street, Amukoko, Lagos state when they disproportionately responded with bullets fired from their weapons at some youths alleged to have hurled some non-ballistic missiles at them such as stones, sticks and bottles leading to the death of one of the youths and injury on another.
“They were arrested, detained and tried immediately on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos state, CP Edgal Imohimi.
“The guilty verdict was passed on them by the adjudicating officer who considered that the officers did not appreciate the situation critically and ought not to have applied the maximum force on the unruly youths,” the statement said.
The police authorities in the state said it would charge the dismissed men to court this week, while a duplicate copy of the case file would be sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
Meanwhile, the Police Commissioner has directed all the Area Commanders and DPOs in Lagos state to warn their men against misapplication of force. He further warned that officers must abide by the Rules of Engagement (ROE) as stipulated in Force Order 237.
