Joy Anyim
A police sergeant, Onalaja Onajide, attached to the Ilemba Hausa Police Division, Lagos State Police Command, has been shot dead by two military deserters, Kehinde Elijah, and Ezeh Joseph.
Information has it that the suspects, now in police custody, had attacked and shot the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), and the late Onajide, a Station Guard at the division on May 10, 2020.
It was learnt that the suspects, who claimed to be serving military personnel, approached the DPO earlier, requesting the release of a motorcycle impounded by operatives of the Division.
The DPO refused to grant them the favour insisting the action was in line with the state government’s directive on the ban on motorcycles in Lagos.
This triggered their anger, as the suspects targeted the DPO who was standing outside the division around 10p.m., shot at him and also shot at the Station Guard who tried to defend his boss.
Fortunately, the DPO survived with gunshot wounds, while Onajide died after been rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Investigation into the alleged murder led to the arrest of Elijah, who deserted the army in 2015, after he was posted to the North East to fight insurgents. Joseph was later arrested and also claimed to have deserted the military during a training.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Sunday, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Elkana Bala, said investigation was still ongoing as the suspects will soon be charged to court.
Bala said: “Kehinde Elijah, 45, of Ibiyeye Street, Whitehouse Bus Stop Okokomaiko, was arrested on May 16, by policemen at the Ilemba Hausa Police Division. He is among three suspects on Police wanted list for violent crimes. Four pairs of military accoutrements were recovered from his house. He claimed to have deserted the military in 2015 when he was deployed to the North east to fight insurgency. He has been in Ojo area of Lagos since then.
“He has been terrorising members of the public. The second suspect, Ezeh Frank Joseph, was arrested in his apartment at Imude Pako Area, Era road, Ajangbadi on May 17 . He claimed to have deserted the military while undergoing basic military training. They are arrested in respect of the shooting and killing of Police Sergeant Onalaja Onajide attached to Ilemba Hausa Division.
“The shooting incident happened on May 10, at 9:40p.m., when unknown gunmen fired gunshots at the Divisional Police Officer, Ilemba Hausa and the Station Guard, Sergeant Onalaja Onajide. The DPO survived the gunshots but the Station Guard died from the pellets wound. Investigation led to the arrest of the two.
“The first suspect was earlier at the Station to solicit the release of his motorcycle which was impounded by the Police for violating the ban on the use of commercial Motorcycles. Not happy with the DPOs refusal to release the motorcycle to him, he decided to launch the deadly attack. ”
