Lagos market security guard kills passerby

The police in Lagos have arrested a local security guard, Sikiru Omotayo, for allegedly shooting dead a passerby he suspected to be a thief.

Omotayo, who was said to be one of the vigilantes at Alaba International Market, reportedly shot at the victim on the suspicion that he wanted to burgle a shop.

It was learnt that the bullet hit the victim, whose identity had yet-to-be identified, in the chest and he died on the spot.

It was gathered that the case was reported at the Ojo Police Station by a shop owner at the electronic section of the market and Omotayo was arrested.

A source told newsmen that the incident happened on the Christmas eve, adding that when the victim was searched, no incriminating item was found on him.

The source said, “I am also a trader at the market. It was when I resumed work from Christmas break that I learnt about the incident. Everybody blamed the guard because he could have handled the situation differently. Even if he had a strong suspicion that the man was a thief and there was no means to stop him other than shooting, he should have shot him in the leg. The man (Omotayo) has been arrested.” 

The police spokesperson in the state, DSP Bala Elkana, said the command had commenced investigation into the “murder case.”

He said the case was reported by an executive member of the market and a police team mobilised to the scene.

“The man said he received a phone call that one Sikiru Omotayo of Madu Street, Jakande Ajangbadi, who is a security guard in a section of the market, shot and killed somebody suspected to be a thief.

“A police team visited the scene, took photographs and removed the corpse. Nothing incriminating was found on the deceased. The suspect was arrested and detained while one single-barrelled pump action with five live cartridges was recovered from him.”