An 18-year-old female SS1 student identified as Hadiyat Sikiru was on Monday shot dead by a policeman hit by a stray bullet during a raid on suspected cultists in Adama, Ikorodu, the Lagos State Police Command has confirmed.
The killing sparked off protest as youths in the area set a police patrol vehicle ablaze after the policemen fled the scene.
Lagos police public relations officer, Bala Elkana, claimed in a statement made available to Qed.ng on Tuesday that two policemen were killed during the raid.
The identity of the affected policemen was not disclosed.
According to Mr Elkana, the exchange of gunshots occurred following a tip-off and a raid on the den of the cultists “who specialise in ritual murder and kidnapping for ritual purposes.”
On sighting the policemen, the suspects opened fire and equally use some of their hostages as human shields.
“During the operation that lasted for about one hour, two police officers were injured and three suspects were arrested namely, Ahmed Hassan, Daniel Enyin and Olaniran Alium,” the statement said.
“Attempt by other members of the deadly gang to attack our police station at Imota was met with stiff resistance by the gallant officers on duty,” the statement added.
Elkana concluded that Lagos commissioner of police, Zubairu Muazu, has directed the deputy commissioner of police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti should take over the case for in-depth investigation.
