LAGOS — A routine stop-and-search operation turned fatal on Saturday afternoon along Olugbede Street in the Egbeda area of Lagos State, claiming the life of Police Sergeant Johnson Okediji.
According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, officers flagged down a Lexus ES 350 with registration number FKJ 223 KX, driven by 21-year-old Olumide Olushola, at approximately 2:20 PM. What was meant to be a standard check escalated into tragedy when the vehicle allegedly accelerated as the sergeant approached the driver’s side.
Speaking at a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja, CP Tijani detailed how the officer was struck and dragged underneath the vehicle for several meters. Despite desperate attempts by surrounding officers and passers-by to halt the car, the driver kept moving before eventually being pursued and apprehended.
Sergeant Okediji suffered critical head injuries and multiple fractures. He was rushed to a nearby medical facility and subsequently referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where medical personnel pronounced him dead on arrival. His remains have since been transferred to the Mainland Hospital Mortuary for preservation and an upcoming autopsy.
Suspect’s Account: A Fight Against Failing Brakes
Paraded before journalists, Olushola expressed profound remorse for the incident but vehemently denied intentionally hitting the law enforcement officer. He claimed that the vehicle’s braking system failed catastrophically at the critical moment.
According to Olushola, who operates a business selling phones and gadgets, he had noticed mechanical issues with the vehicle—which he stated belonged to his mother—and had taken it to a mechanic just a day prior.
”I carried the vehicle to the mechanic the day before that day. I told the mechanic to change all the brake pads in the vehicle, and the mechanic told me he had changed all the brake pads,” Olushola stated.
He admitted that he noticed the brakes were still slipping after purchasing fuel earlier that day, but explained that he intended to return to the mechanic later in the afternoon. When he spotted the police checkpoint, he stated he attempted to stop, but the vehicle failed to respond, ultimately colliding with the officer and another car ahead in the queue.
Broader Security Updates
In addition to addressing the tragic loss of Sergeant Okediji, CP Tijani used the briefing to highlight recent operational achievements by the Lagos State Police Command.
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Authorities reported the arrest of 32 suspects for various criminal offenses during the review period. Operatives also recovered 43 vehicles, multiple firearms including pump-action guns and locally made pistols, live ammunition, cutlasses, suspected criminal charms, and various vehicle spare parts.
Police authorities confirmed that investigations into the exact mechanical state of the Lexus and the broader circumstances surrounding Sergeant Okediji’s death remain active.
