A man has died after allegedly jumping into a canal to avoid arrest in the Ipaja area of Lagos State.
The Lagos Police Command’s Spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the development on his verified X handle @benHundeyin on Friday.
He said the incident happened on Wednesday at about 10:00 a.m. in the Mosan Okunola area of Ipaja.
The statement read, “The police visited the scene and met eye witnesses on ground who voluntarily gave their statements regarding the unfortunate incident. At about 10am on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, somewhere around Gowon Estate, the young man was a passenger on a motorcycle riding against traffic.
“Immediately they sighted the police approaching in their vehicle, the rider made a sharp u-turn while the passenger jumped off the motorcycle, crossed the road and ran through the nearby tipper garage. People in the garage who saw him running towards the canal and at the same time emptying the contents of his pockets agitatedly warned him about a canal ahead.
“He did not stop but unfortunately jumped into the canal. The police officers, startled at his knee-jerk reaction, stopped their vehicle, alighted and went in the direction of the canal. The people around informed the police that the young man jumped into the canal.
“They all went to look, waited some minutes, did not see him, upon which the police left, believing he successfully evaded them.
“The police officers did not speak with him, did not touch him, did not chase him, did nothing. The young man simply saw them and bolted. May God give his family the fortitude to bear the sad loss. Amen. Lagosians are assured that @LagosPoliceNG under CP Olanrewaju Ishola, psc+, mnips would not condone any form of unprofessional conduct on the part of its officers.”
