About six police officers were said to have been killed in separate robbery operations in Lagos over the weekend.
The robberies took place in Ajah, Aguda, and Oyingbo on Saturday and Sunday.
In the Oyingbo incident, Lateefah Oyinloye, a mother of four children was said to have been killed alongside a police officer simply identified as Moroof.
A woman residing on Redemption Way, Oyingbo, said the robbers had attacked her house at about 1:30am to rob.
She said, “Around 1:30am, some armed robbers jumped over my fence and entered the house. They robbed us all and riddled the entire house with bullets.
“Two of the robbers stood guard outside the compound while six stayed inside and ransacked the house. One of the robbers wore a mask while the others didn’t.
“They locked me and my husband inside the toilet and opened fire on the door. Luckily, no one in my house was killed.”
The robbers were trying to escape when they sighted a policeman in a patrol vehicle and opened fire on him.
Lateefah Oyinloye; House robbed at Oyingbo with bullet holes on gate
Lateefah Oyinloye was reportedly in a taxi when she was hit by a bullet.
A source who craved anonymity narrated the incident saying, “Policemen from Denton Station usually come to our street to raid a joint in the area. A team of policemen had gone on the usual raid but the police corporal (Moroof) remained in the vehicle.
“Unluckily for him, the robbers saw him and immediately opened fire. Oyinloye was in a taxi at the time and was on her way home when she was hit by a bullet.”
Her daughter, Basirat explained that her mother, who sold drinks, usually closed late from work.
“My mum sells spirits at Obalende and usually closes late at night. She usually comes home in a taxi. She was killed in the taxi.
“The matter has been reported to Denton Police Station but her corpse has not been released to us. We need to bury her quickly because we are Muslims,” she explained weeping uncontrollably.
A member of the family, however, told reporters that the police were demanding N34,000 before her corpse can be released.
“The policemen asked for N34,000 for embalmment and other expenses but we are negotiating with them to collect N20,000,” she said.
A divisional police officer who did not want to be named spoke to reporters confirming the death of five policemen.
He said, “Four policemen were killed at Ajah while one was killed at Oyingbo. I am not aware of that of Aguda.
“We had a meeting with the commissioner of police today (Monday) and security will be beefed up.”
The senior officer said the policemen killed in Ajah were ambushed in a patrol van by the robbers.
He said, “The area commander received a distress call and ordered his men to the scene. On their way there, the robbers came out from the bush and opened fire on them.
The four of them in the vehicle were killed. Co-incidentally, a traffic policeman and a civilian were within the area at that time. They were also killed.”
Spokesperson for the Lagos Police Command, Ngozi Braide was not available to confirm the robbery incidents.
