A Lagos State resident has accused operatives of the Nigeria Police Force of shooting him after he questioned the arrest of some youths in the Powerline area of the state.
The man alleged that the incident occurred last Wednesday at about 3 p.m. when he noticed police officers stopping, searching and attempting to force a group of young men into a patrol van.
He said one of the youths was known to him, prompting him to approach the officers to ask why they were being arrested.
According to him, the officers warned him to stay out of the matter, but he persisted in seeking clarification on the alleged offence committed by the youths.
He claimed that a uniformed officer later arrived at the scene, listened to the explanation and ordered the release of one of the youths after nothing incriminating was found during a search.
The situation, however, allegedly worsened with the arrival of another team of policemen, said to be from the Area G Command.
“The moment they arrived, they ordered that everyone should be arrested,” he said, adding that while most people fled, he stayed behind, believing he had committed no offence.
The resident alleged that a senior officer subsequently aimed a firearm at him and shot.
“He cocked the gun and shot. One bullet hit my thigh, and another struck my thumb as I tried to run,” he said.
He further alleged that despite sustaining gunshot wounds, he was arrested and taken to the Elere Police Station, where officers accused him of attempting to seize a firearm from one of them.
The victim also claimed that he and others were assaulted while in custody and pressured to confess to offences they did not commit.
“They beat us and tried to force confessions,” he said.
Although bleeding from his injuries, he said he was detained overnight, noting that police officers initially contemplated placing him in a cell but later declined because of his condition.
He further alleged that the following day, the police demanded money for bail and other expenses.
According to him, the detainees were compelled to pay compensation for a passerby’s mobile phone allegedly damaged by a stray bullet during the incident.
“One person transferred N150,000 to replace the phone, and we later paid another N150,000 for bail, bringing the total to N300,000,” he said.
When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer of the station reportedly denied the allegations, despite the existence of video evidence linked to the incident.