Lagos Police Confirms Death Of CSP, Attack Of DPO, Others During Raid On Motorcycle Riders

*Lagos CP Vows To Arrest Motorcyclists Who Killed Policeman, Destroyed Patrol Vehicles

The Lagos State Police Command on Friday confirmed the killing of one of its officers and the injuring of a Divisional Police Officer and other officers during a raid on a black spot and enforcement of the ban on the use of motorcycles in restricted places in one of the areas of the state on Thursday.

There was violence in the Ajao Estate area of the state on Thursday when the tactical teams of the command comprising men were drawn from the Rapid Response Squad, Taskforce, Ajao Estate division and other divisions carried out a raid of identified flashpoints and enforcing the ban on the use of motorcycles in restricted areas in the estate and similar places in the state.

However, in the ensuing violence, there were reports that some policemen were killed while others were injured with an unspecified number of hoodlums arrested in the area.

However, confirming the death of one of its officers, the state police command disclosed that the officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Kazeem Sumonu Abonde, attached to the Operations Department of the command was killed by the hoodlums during the raid.

The police officer, also a lawyer was preparing towards his retirement in few months to commence law practice when he was cut down in the prime of his youth.

The police also confirmed that the DPO, Ajao Estate, CSP Abdullahi Malla and other police officers equally sustained varying degrees of injuries while the corpse of the murdered CSP Abonde had been deposited at the Yaba Mainland Hospital for autopsy.

According to the statement by the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Adekunle Ajusebutu: “The Lagos State Police Command lost one of its finest officers during a raid on criminal hideouts in Ajao Estate, Lagos State, yesterday, 23rd September 2021.

“The incident happened when tactical teams of the command comprising men drawn from RRS, Taskforce, Ajao Estate division and other divisions were carrying out raids of identified flashpoints and enforcing the ban on the use of motorcycles in restricted areas in the estate and similar places in the state.

“The exercise was a routine proactive approach aimed at curtailing activities of armed robbers and other criminal elements in the state. Similar exercises were carried out in the past in other parts of the state which have resulted in a reduction in crimes in the areas.

“After the successful operations which led to the arrest of some of the suspects, other criminal elements and hoodlums in their large numbers laid siege to the exit of the estate and attacked the policemen with guns, cutlasses and other weapons.

“Unfortunately, during the fatal attack, CSP Kazeem Sumonu Abonde attached to the Operations Department of the command was killed by the hoodlums. The DPO, Ajao Estate, CSP Abdullahi Malla and other police officers equally sustained varying degrees of injuries. The corpse of the deceased officer has been deposited at the Yaba Mainland Hospital for autopsy.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, while condemning the attack on the policemen who were carrying out legitimate duty at the time, has directed that a discreet investigation into the incident should be carried out immediately. The CP has equally vowed to ensure that all suspects responsible for the dastardly act would be brought to book soon.”