Policemen cause accident, teargas motorist to escape

Samson Folarin

There was chaos at the tollgate area of Ikeja, Lagos State, on Thursday after two policemen, who had reportedly caused a minor accident, opened a tear gas canister on a motorist.

The motorist, Taiwo Folarin, was said to have attempted taking down the names of the officers, when the incident happened.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the policemen, who had yet to be identified, fled the area while the victim writhed in pain.

Folarin, who spoke with our correspondent shortly after the incident, said he was driving to his office on Lagos Island when the driver of an LT bus suddenly stopped on the road.

The bus was said to be conveying the two officers and the driver.

He said, “I was on my way to work around 7.45am and had got to tollgate. Suddenly, the LT bus in front of me stopped in the middle of the expressway. I was caught unawares, but I was able to quickly press the brake pedal to avoid a crash. The car behind me, however, rammed into my back bumper. The car driver quickly manoeuvred and drove off.

“I had barely alighted from my car to approach the driver of the LT bus when the driver also drove off. I saw two armed policemen in the vehicle with him. They were the only ones in the vehicle.

“I chased them and they later pulled up. I parked behind them and told the officers they should have cautioned the driver because if it were a trailer that was coming behind me, I could have been killed and there could have been a multiple crash.

“One of them just came down and without listening to me, emptied a tear gas canister into my face and fled.”

Folarin, who called for police investigation into the matter, said he was able to get the number plate of the vehicle, which he gave as LND 423 XA.

He said although he could not get the names of the officers, he could recognise them and  the driver.

It was learnt that the case was reported at the Alausa Police Division.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the matter was under investigation.

She said, “As it is, the complainant has no clue about the identity of the policemen that assaulted him. The division is, however, investigating the assault case.

“If any policeman is found culpable, such officer will be sanctioned.”

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